Discrimination “at all levels” is exacerbating homelessness among minority ethnic communities, charity Shelter warned this week.
New figures show that they suffer disproportionately from homelessness and housing problems.

Last year 63 per cent of African and Caribbean callers to the charity’s advice line, Shelterline, were experiencing homelessness, compared to 52 per cent of white callers.

Twice as many Asian callers as white callers experienced poor quality housing conditions.

Director Chris Holmes said: “Dis-crimination at all levels continues to exist and is exacerbating problems of homelessness and bad housing among minority ethnic groups.”

In a separate survey of rolling shelters by Crash, the construction industry body for the single homeless, women rough sleepers were found be marginalised from mental health and substance abuse services.

Crash director Tom Biddlecombe said: “It is widely recognised that addressing homelessness involves more than putting a roof over someone’s head. It involves providing social support.

“Crash’s survey indicates that this support should be gender sensitive in order to address the increasing needs of women rough sleepers.”

Source

Housing Today