TACKLING ETHNIC MINORITY HOMELESSNESS
Introduction
The Government is committed to tackling homelessness more effectively. In March 2005 it
published a homelessness strategy ‘
Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives’
aimed at developing more effective homelessness prevention and the provision of more
settled homes. This approach has already demonstrated considerable success in reducing new
cases of homelessness but some persistent challenges remain.
Ethnicity and homelessness
Ethnic minority communities are disproportionately represented among those accepted by local
authorities as owed a homelessness duty. Between January and March 2006, of the 20,730
households accepted as homeless, 4510 were from an ethnic minority background.
Whereas nationally around 7% of the population are from ethnic minority communities, they
accounted for 22% of those who were accepted as homeless last quarter. They are, therefore,
around 3 times more likely to experience homelessness than their White counterparts.
Ethnos research
In 2003 ODPM commissioned Ethnos to conduct research into
The causes of homelessness in
ethnic minority communities.
The findings confirmed the Government's own statistical data
provided by local authorities. It also revealed marked differences between different ethnic
groups. For example, people of Black African and Black Caribbean origins are twice as likely
to be accepted as homeless than those of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origins.
The reasons for this are varied and complex. People from ethnic minority backgrounds
generally live in more deprived circumstances than their White counterparts. They are also
more likely to be affected by poverty, unemployment, low educational achievement and
overcrowding thus reducing their housing options and making them disproportionately
vulnerable to homelessness.
This pattern is found across all regions in England. It is therefore critical that local authorities
and their partner agencies have in place comprehensive strategies to better prevent and
respond to homelessness in ethnic minority communities.
Development guide
In September 2005 ODPM published
Tackling homelessness amongst ethnic minority
households - a development guide
alongside the Ethnos research findings. The Guide aims
to assist local authorities and their partner agencies in the development of inclusive,
evidence-based and cost-effective homelessness services for their local ethnic minority populations. It
seeks to provide:
tools to profile their local ethnic minority communities;
tools to map the needs of ethnic minority households who are or may become homeless;
strategies to develop appropriate and accessible homelessness services for all ethnic
minority groups; and
approaches for meeting legal duties on race equality.
ETHNIC MINORITIES INNOVATION FUND (EMIF)
To support uptake of the Development Guide, a £3 million Ethnic Minorities Innovation Fund
(EMIF) was launched in September 2005. The Fund will provide grants to projects across the
country over two years - 2006-07 and 2007-08.
The aim of the fund to is to identify new and effective approaches to tackling and preventing
homelessness-related issues faced by ethnic minority groups in England, and to support the
delivery of good practice. The fund is intended to supplement the development guide with
successful new approaches then being disseminated more widely. EMIF delivers on a
commitment made in the Government's homelessness strategy to support the delivery of good
practice and to fund innovative approaches to tackling homelessness which focus on the
specific issues faced by ethnic minority groups.
Projects will be aiming to deliver:
reduced levels of homelessness amongst ethnic minority people;
a reduction in the level of repeat homelessness amongst ethnic minority people
a reduction in the number of ethnic minority people in temporary accommodation, and
the provision of inclusive and effective homelessness services.
Details of the projects to be funded by EMIF are summarised below.
PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE ETHNIC MINORITIES
INNOVATION FUND (EMIF) 2006-2007 - 2007-2008.
GO REGION
LEAD PARTNER AND MAIN
CONTACT
PROJECT
NAME &
EMIF GRANT
PROJECT SUMMARY
LONDON LB Merton
Angela Chu
Housing Strategy Manager London Borough of Merton
Housing Strategy & Development Team 5th Floor
Merton Civic Centre London Road Morden
Surrey SM4 5DX
angela.chu@merton.gov.uk
Participatory Video for BME Young People on Housing Issues
Grant 06/07 £38,155
Grant 07/08 £4,700
Reduction and prevention of homelessness by raising
awareness through a video project, targeting those at risk of
homelessness, and to raise the skills levels of ethnic minority young people at risk of
homelessness to help them gain employment.
The funding will be used to:
Provide multi-media, research and other training for
participants and for video production.
Enable participants to
undertake a research project on housing issues faced by their peers.
Run a Peer Education
programme to raise awareness of housing and homeless issues amongst a wider group of young people.
Innovation - first such multi-media project in Merton targeting ethnic minority young people. Project linked to Peer Education Programme delivered by young people. Good value for money and easily replicated.
LONDON Shelter
Cherry Furber
Development Manager for London Shelter
Units 210-213 Burford Business Centre, Burford Road
London E15 2ST
Cherry_Furber@shelter.org.uk
East London Multi Lingual Private Sector Tenants Advocacy Project
Grant 06/07 £93,649
Grant 07/08 £113,001
This project aims to develop a model to provide a joined-up support service to reduce levels of homelessness and increase housing options in the private rented sector.
Innovation - aunique model of working between ethnic minority tenants, advice agencies and landlords, involving potential users and community/faith groups.
LONDON Holy Cross Centre Trust (HCCT)
Sam Hopley Director
Holy Cross Centre Trust 71 Tonbridge Street London
W1
sam.hopley@hcct.org.uk
St Pancras Refugee Centre - Housing Advocacy and Tenancy Support
Grant 06/07 £34,675
Grant 07/08 £35,524
Partnership work between the community, voluntary and statutory sectors to meet refugees' housing and support needs - e.g. improving access to and maintenance of tenancies; working with the Criminal Justice System to assist refugees released from prison to access and sustain housing; assisting refugees leaving NASS accommodation to access adequate secure housing and planned resettlement programmes; working with health and housing providers, refugee communities and statutory services to provide an outreach service for those who are isolated and not engaging with services.
Innovation - aholistic approach to addressing refugees' needs through engagement with refugee communities and hard to reach groups.
LONDON Equilibrium
Tony Thind Chair Equilibrium 79 Barrett’s Grove London
N16 8AP
tonythind@blueyonder.co.uk
Equilibrium
Grant 06/07 £6,000
Grant 07/08 £6,000
Equilibrium is a community-based group that provides Group Coaching to disadvantaged ethnic minority communities providing literacy, numeracy and ITC training. The aim is to assist ethnic minority clients to keep their tenancies and accommodation and reduce race inequality by promoting
empowerment and a sense of inclusion in the wider community.
Innovation - a holistic approach to address homelessness through provision of life coaching, training, complementary therapies and basic skills classes. Very good value for money and easily replicated.
LONDON Revolving Doors Agency
Rob Fitzpatrick Head of Partnerships Revolving Doors Agency Units 28/29
The Turnmill
63 Clerkenwell Road London
EC1M 5NP
rob.fitzpatrick@revolving-doors.org.uk
Link Worker Scheme: HMP Holloway
Grant 06/07 £50,000
Grant 07/08 £50,000
facilitate a reduction of re-offending and prevention of homelessness.
An advisory group will
complement the practical efforts of the team to engage with clients and link them to appropriate services by identifying and
addressing systemic challenges to effective inter-agency practice.
Innovation - first project to
strengthen the link between service need and specific individuals, particularly those with mental health and multiple needs.
LONDON Step Forward (Tower Hamlets)
Jennifer Fear Director Step Forward
234 Bethnal Green Road London E2 OAA
jennifer@stepforward-web.org
Tower Hamlets Youth
Homelessness Prevention Project
Grant 06/07 £50,000
Grant 07/08 £50,000
The objective of this project is to provide a holistic and intensive package of support for 50 ethnic minority young people aged 11 to 25 at risk of homelessness per year, so that they develop better skills for life, enabling them to succeed in education or training, develop better relationships and either remain in their family home or leave home in a more planned way. The project will provide an innovative blend of information, advice and guidance, counselling and therapeutic work, and personal development
opportunities for young people and their families aiming to prevent the next generation of homelessness and to reduce the incidences of repeat homelessness.
Innovation - statutory/voluntary and community sector partnership working and involvement of ethnic minority service users in project planning and delivery.
LONDON St Mungo's
Dominic Raffo Group Manager
Offender Management Services St Mungo’s
Griffin House
161 Hammersmith Road London
W6 8BS
Dominicr@mungos.org
Muslim Resettlement and Social Cohesion Project
Grant 06/07 £98,000
Grant 07/08 £103,000
The project aims to establish a targeted resettlement service which is aimed at prisoners from the Muslim community.
The objective is to improve resettlement outcomes for this client group, to establish strong working relationships with community leaders, and a reduction in rates of re-offending as a result of reducing
Innovation - the project looks at the fractures within the Muslim community caused by offending behaviour to reduce re-offending through social cohesion and stability in housing.
SOUTH EAST Milton Keynes Council
Pam Wharfe
Head of Housing Strategy & Needs Milton Keynes Council
Level 3, Saxon Court Avebury Boulevard Central Milton Keynes MK9 3HS
pam.wharfe@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Multi Media Housing Advice for the Somali Community
Grant 06/07 £22,000
Grant 07/08 £20,600
This project will fund a community worker based within the Somali community working to create multi-media housing advice resources to help prevent homelessness and give better access to housing options.
Innovation - theuse of multi-media DVD and web technology to make information accessible to client groups who have low levels of literacy.
EAST OF ENGLAND
St Martin's Housing Trust
Paul Cheeseman
Community SupportManager St Martins Housing Trust 35 Bishopgate
Norwich NR1 4AA
paul.cheeseman@stmartinshousing.org. uk
First Step 24
Grant 06/07 £35,000
Grant 07/08 £15,000
The project aims to provide housing advice and support training to increase the scope and depth of community organisations' outreach to migrant workers and refugee communities. The project will form partnerships with
community organisations to facilitate capacity building amongst ethnic minority groups and will resource a minimum of 20% of its staffing requirements from ethnic minority groups, providing culturally sensitive and linguistically diverse support.
Innovation - preventative solutions sourced from community and service user groups and supported by a telephone service.
YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE
Hull Asylum Seekers Support Group (HASSG)
Patrick Holdsworth Trustee
HASSG
167 Spring Bank Hull
HU3 1BN
paddy.sb@ourcomms.org
167 Centre Housing Project
Grant 06/07 £18,651
Grant 07/08 £17,951
This project will provide a
dedicated Housing Project Worker and trained volunteers to work with refugees dispersed to Hull who wish to settle there through advice, support and tenancy sustainment, and culturally-sensitive translation facilities and outreach capacity.
Innovation - first organisation in Hull to work with local communities in preparation for refugee client tenancies.
NORTH WEST Blackburn with Darwen BC
Peter Cooke
Head of Housing and Enabling Services Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Town Hall
King William Street Blackburn BB1 7DY
Ethnic Minorities - Domestic Abuse Support Service
Grant 06/07 £35,800
peter.cooke@blackburn.gov.uk Grant 07/08 £37,240
prevention by delivering support and guidance to prevent
homelessness (related to violent breakdown of relationship) and ensure appropriate links to services and providers.
Innovation - the development of personal strategies for DV victims wanting to remain in their homes (where appropriate).
NORTH WEST Refugee Action, Liverpool
Rashid Iqbal
Asylum Advice Manager. Asylum Advice
Refugee Action 64 Mount Pleasant Liverpool L3 5SD
RashidI@Refugee-Action.org.uk
Move-On Advocacy Project
Grant 06/07 £48,347
Grant 07/08 £49,885
This project aims to minimise the occurrence, impact and duration of homelessness amongst refugees by the provision of 1-to-1 and small group support work through volunteer advocates; strengthening stakeholder partnerships; and organising training, awareness and capacity building events.
Innovation - active involvement of refugees and other ethnic minority communities in the project delivery.
NORTH WEST Youth Action
Amar Abass Chief Executive Youth Action 53a James Street, Blackburn
Lancashire BB1 6BE
AmarAbass@Youth-Action.net
BME Youth Home Skills Project
Grant 06/07 £59,500
Grant 07/08 £61,285
The funding will provide resource for a full-time Development Officer and a part-time Training &
Guidance Officer. The funding would also finance accredited training programmes (Youth Achievement Awards accredited via ASDAN) for the personal development of young people. The purpose of the project is to equip ethnic minority young people with the key skills to enable them to avoid repeat homelessness – and to offer support which is tailor made to each individual.
Innovation - inclusion of ethnic minority young people to set the project's objectives.
NORTH WEST Rochdale MBC
Ian Jolley
Head of Homelessness Section Rochdale MBC
PO Box 39 Municipal Offices Smith Street Rochdale, OL 16 1LQ
Ian.Jolley@rochdale.gov.uk
Resettlement, Accommodation, Partnership & Prevention (RAPP)
Grant 06/07 £54,679
Grant 07/08 £53,840
Employment of 1.5 workers covering: programme work with prisoners to increase knowledge and capacity regarding tenancy maintenance; individual casework on accommodation referrals and tenancy sustainment; development of Prison Peer mentors.
Innovation - a multi-agency approach to counter
NORTH WEST The North West Consortium (East) for Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Jon Powell
Homeless Welfare Manager Bolton MBC
Housing Options Centre 1 Silverwell Lane BOLTON
BL1 1QN
jon.powell@bolton.gov.uk
Prevention of Homelessness (Refugees and Asylum Seeker) Good Practice Pilot
Grant 06/07 £69,000
Grant 07/08 £91,000
This project aims to:
foster greater links between refugee communities and local authorities to encourage and improve closer partnership working between key agencies in relation to refugee resettlement and integration;
adapt existing move-on systems by working with private providers and LAs in order to delay and prevent homelessness where possible; and
to encourage and support the development of local refugee for a and groups in order to maximise
opportunities for capacity building, befriending and community support.
Innovation - first opportunity to deepen integration work with communities and test projects on a local and sub-regional basis following introduction of new NASS contracts from April 06.
NORTH WEST Trafford Women's Aid
Cath Owston
New Initiatives &Policy Manager Trafford Housing Trust
Marshall House 2 Park Avenue Sale M33 6HE
cath.owston@traffordhousingtrust.co.uk
Community Mentoring and Outreach Support
Grant 06/07 £70,543
Grant 07/08 £92,509
EMIF funding will be used to employ a Community Mentoring and Outreach Support worker, who would perform an advocacy, support and mentoring role to increase community awareness of domestic violence and
homelessness issues and to provide comprehensive advice and information about housing options
.
The worker will also seek to recruit and train members of the BME communities to act as mentors and advocates, to increase community support networks and to ensure that harder to reach ethnic minority communitieshave effective access to services.Innovation - members of ethnic minority communities to be trained as mentors and advocates thereby increasing community support networks and ensuring harder to reach groups access services.
SOUTH WEST Plymouth City Council Devon Inclusive Housing Project
Phil Harris
Assistant Director (Housing Operations)
Plymouth City Council Housing Services 1st Floor Midland House Notte Street Plymouth, PL1 2EJ
phil.harris@plymouth.gov.uk
Grant 06/07 £143,550
Grant 07/08 £156,282
minority population in order to offer more choice, prevent
homelessness and provide a route out of temporary accommodation. It also aims to prevent
homelessness by ensuring housing services are culturally sensitive; improve signposting and referrals between statutory and voluntary sectors. The project will also delivereducation and trainingwith a view to raising awareness of the specific needs of the ethnic minority population, promoting an inclusive culture and ensuring that all agencies are more aware of one another’s roles.
Innovation - creation of a
peripatetic team to respond to the needs of different ethnic minority groups, operational across a large geographical area.
SOUTH WEST Kerrier DC
Jane Barlow
Head of Service – Housing and Environmental Health
Kerrier District Council Dolcoath Avenue Camborne Cornwall TR14 8SX
jane.barlow@kerrier.gov.uk
Cornwall Gypsy and Traveller Renewal Project
Grant 06/07 £25,000
Grant 07/08 £30,000
The project aims to address disrepair in caravans owned by Gypsies and Travellers who are resident on any of the three authorised sites in Cornwall.
Innovation - completely new service with clear prevention focus. Element of education and
encouragement to join a credit union to save for future repairs. Strong buy-in from local PCTs.
SOUTH WEST Bristol Next Domestic Abuse Services
Carol Metters Director
Next Link Domestic Abuse Services 5 Queen Square
Bristol BS1 4JQ
carol.metters@missinglinkhousing.co.uk
South Asian Domestic Abuse Crisis Service
Grant 06/07 £70,573
Grant 07/08 £74,391
This project aims to provide a holistic service which will meet the needs of South Asian women by offering workers who come from the South Asian community and have a profound understanding of South Asian culture.
The funding would finance 2 full time dedicated South Asian Crisis Response workers who will provide crisis intervention to South Asian women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse. The workers will assist families in crisis to access culturally sensitive support and legal and practical remedies to enable them to remain in the family home The service will offer them intensive support to help make them safe, stabilise their housing situation to prevent homelessness and aims to lower repeat incidents of domestic abuse.
in their homes and proving a gateway to support for South Asian women, who tend not to access support services.
WEST MIDLANDS
Birmingham City Council
Adrian Randall
Lead Officer, Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Birmingham City Council 1 Victoria Square, B1 1BB
Adrian.Randall@birmingham.gov.uk
Refugee
Housing Options Team
Grant 06/07 £114,320
Grant 07/08 £142,639
This project will develop housing options for those given ILR by working with NASS providers to delay eviction, source move-on accommodation or convert tenancies; build relationships between private landlords and RSLs with agencies advising refugees.
BCC aims to expand the availability of rent deposits for families and single people. It will also seek to develop fast track Housing Benefit as a tool to reduce homelessness and develop appropriate guidance on the use of discretionary housing benefit for this purpose.
Innovation - building new
partnerships between all major key stakeholders to create a variety of pathways to settled housing for refugees.
WEST MIDLANDS
Panahghar - Asian Women's Organisation
Sobia Shaw Chief Executive Panahghar
3 St Margaret Road Stoke Coventry
CV1 2 BT
Domestic Violence Outreach Action Project
Grant 06/07 £110,000
Grant 07/08 £110,000
This project will fund multi-lingual support, advocacy, advice,
information and access to agencies and services via a helpline. It will also work within family homes and in group work (such as advice surgeries and community seminars for professionals and users in languages) on issues which would assist women to build knowledge and confidence and open up options to maximise safety and reduce the need to leave their homes or be able to return to their homes.
Innovation - The first project of its kind in Coventry supporting women experiencing domestic violence to stay in the home.
EAST MIDLANDS
Derbyshire Housing Aid
Kyla Elliot
Fundraising Officer Derbyshire Housing Aid 33 Boyer Street
Derby DE22 3TB
kyla.elliot@housingaid.org.uk
SmartShare
Final EMIF grant to be confirmed
NORTH EAST The Northern Network of Travelling People
Helen Jones Treasurer
Northern Network c/o Leeds GATE Ground Floor Crown Point House 169 Crossgreen Lane LEEDS
LS9 0BD
helen-jones@leedsgate.co.uk
The Northern Network 'We're Talking Homes' project
Final EMIF grant to be confirmed
The project will appoint of a Co-ordinator to manage a key worker in 3 GO areas (NE, YH and NW) to prevent homelessness amongst the Gypsy and Traveller
community.
Where can I find out more?
Our homelessness research, development guide and details of EMIF are available on the
DCLG website at
www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1149911
