Homelessness and Ethnicity Dr Beth Watts ISPHERE Heriot

Homelessness and Ethnicity Dr Beth Watts I-SPHERE, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh BME National Conference, 20 th October 2016

Context • Homelessness has been increasing in England since around 2010 • Directly linked to weakening of welfare safety net • Tight housing markets plus Housing Benefit restrictions • 93% (London) v 49% (North) of LAs say benefit cuts have increased homelessness • Targeted initiatives but Supporting People slashed by 56%

Statutory homelessness (England)

Change in immediate causes of homelessness (England)

BME population in England & Wales Proportion of population – 2011 Census (%) White Black or Black British Asian or Asian British 87. 1 3. 0 6. 2 Mixed 2. 0 Chinese or other 1. 6 13. 0% of UK population were born abroad (2014)

Statutory homelessness acceptances and ethnicity (England) Proportion of statutory homeless households (%) 2010/11 2015/16 Statutory homeless households White BME 2010/11 29, 540 2015/16 Change White 12, 380 67 59 Black or Black British 34, 230 19, 790 14 17 Asian or Asian British +16% +60% 6 9 Mixed 3 3 Chinese or other 4 5

Statutory family homelessness survey (2008, DCLG) • • • Ethnic minority homeless population heavily concentrated in London (even stronger than would be expected given strong representation of BME groups generally in capital) Outside of London, proportion of BME homeless households in line with representation in broader population (around 10%) 59% of those in temporary accommodation for more than a year were from had ethnic minority background (70% in London) Homeless households from BME background less likely to have experienced problems in childhood or adulthood than other homeless (less vulnerable profile); less likely to report mental health problems Ethnic minority respondents less likely to have sought various forms of help than White respondents (join waiting list, seek private tenancy, ask friends and family to accommodate); less likely to have access to emotional and/or instrumental support

Youth homelessness (16 -25 year olds) and ethnicity (Birmingham)

Rough sleeping by nationality (London)

Rough sleeping and ethnicity (London) Proportion of rough sleepers (%) Rough sleepers 2011/12 2015/16 White 74. 2 67. 5 2617 Black or Black British 12. 4 13. 5 +87% Asian or Asian British 6. 4 6. 8 Mixed 2. 1 2. 2 Chinese or other 4. 9 10. 0 White BME 2011/12 4013 1399 2015/16 5430 Change +35%

Migrant homelessness • • • Specific challenges for new migrants: language, lack of entitlement, vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, assault and robbery, lack of resources/income and social networks 18% of decisions made under homelessness legislation concern foreign nationals; half of these not owed main duty. 11 per cent of all adult respondents to family homelessness survey reported being a former asylum seeker CEE rough sleepers in London up 37% in 2014/15 on previous year – Linked to 2014 restrictions to HB entitlement for EEA migrants Distinct profile: migrant rough sleepers less likely to have experienced other kinds of ‘deep exclusion’ than UK born Estimated 668, 000 households, (1, 252, 000 people, 312, 000 children) affected by destitution in UK in 2015: 21% migrants

Why? • Poverty, disadvantage and socio-economic marginalization (employment, education, pay, savings and assets etc. ) – Disproportionate impact of welfare reform and austerity budgets (UC, benefit caps, LHA caps, HB cuts for 18 -21 s) • Citizenship status (access to social housing and welfare provision) – Immigration Act 2014 ‘right to rent’ landlord requirements Also: • Racial/cultural discrimination (overt or covert), harassment • Cultural difference (exacerbate causes of homelessness e. g. overcrowding; constrains housing choice e. g. household size) • Language differences constrain access to services and accommodation options

Factors associated with homelessness among specific BME groups • • South Asian women: fleeing domestic violence, forced marriage and family disputes South Asian families: overcrowding, eviction from the PRS Black Caribbean: family disputes (women), multiple and complex needs (mental ill health, drug use, background in prison or care) Black African: extremely diverse, no pattern Irish: domestic violence and financial problems, older single males strongly represented in hostels Migrants: lack of entitlement to welfare support and challenges accessing social housing Refugees: sustained socio-economic disadvantage, lack of networks/knowledge, discrimination and harassment

Closing remarks • • BME groups disproportionately represented among homeless households, especially Black/Black British and in London BME homelessness growing faster than non-BME homelessness BME/migrant homeless have different profile to non-BME/nonmigrant homeless: less complex needs, less traumatic backgrounds Specific dynamics vary within BME population (citizenship status/migration, specific ethnic group) Ongoing (disproportionate) impact of welfare reform, especially for young people, large families and new migrants PRS now major cause of homelessness, social landlords key role in providing stable accommodation for low income households Limited data and recent research, especially on causes of BME homelessness, role of discrimination vs. socio-economic disadvantage, how this picture is changing