Homelessness among ethnic minorities on the rise, says report

Homelessness has risen over twice as fast among ethnic minority households compared to the general population since Labour took power, a new report has claimed.

According to Shelter’s 'The Black and Minority Ethnic Housing Crisis' report, homelessness has increased by 77% among black and minority ethnic households compared to 34% among the general population.

Over 30,000 black and minority ethnic households were homeless during 2003/04, the report found.

Among the African Caribbean population homelessness has risen two and a half times as fast since 1997 compared to the general population. And black and minority ethnic groups "are disproportionately likely to suffer from poor housing", and are seven times more likely to live in overcrowded conditions than white households.

People of Bangladeshi origin are particularly likely to suffer from overcrowding with over half of Bangladeshi children living in officially overcrowded conditions, Shelter said.

Adam Sampson, Director of Shelter, said: "The hidden housing crisis in Britain is having an immensely damaging effect on black and minority ethnic communities.

"For children who are already at serious risk of disadvantage, bad housing can have a devastating effect on their education, health and future prospects. More affordable housing is desperately needed, particularly family sized homes. This would help reduce the large numbers of ethnic minority households living in unfit, emergency and overcrowded conditions."

The report comes shortly after Shelter launched its nationwide 'red chair' sit in protest in 25 cities throughout the UK, designed at gathering widespread public support for its Million Children Campaign.

The Million Children Campaign is calling for a government commitment to end bad housing for the next generation of children.

(gmcg/mb)