New analysis of government data has revealed a huge rise in homelessness amongst ethnic minorities. While the Department for Work and Pensions claim that 670,000 more black and minority ethnic (BME) workers are in employment in Great Britain than in 2010 – an increase of around 24%, study reveals the number of BAME people accepted as homeless by local authorities in England has increased by 63% since 2010 – almost twice as much as the 33% increase in homelessness across all ethnic groups.
The government has claimed that 62% of the ethnic minority population aged 16-24 were in full-time education or work in 2015, compared to 43.4% of all 16-24 year olds. But studies reveal that Government spending cuts and failures to address the cost of housing crisis have had a disproportionate impact on minority communities. 19,260 BAME people were declared homeless in 2015 – up from 11,790 in 2010.
The number of Black or Black British people made homeless has increased by 52% since 2010, while the number of homeless Asians and British Asians has doubled – up 99% in the last five years. It is seldom one with a job will be homeless.
There has been a 57% rise in homelessness amongst people of mixed ethnicity, while the number of homeless people classed as ‘Chinese or Other Ethnic Group’ has increased by 53 per cent.
Ethnic minorities make up 14% of the population, but account for over a third (34%) of homeless people.
The rise in homelessness is in part due to decisions taken by Government Ministers over the last five years, including £5 billion of cuts to housing benefit since 2010, a 45% reduction in funding for homelessness services, the loss of 100,000 council homes and a failure to tackle soaring private rents.
John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Planning, said: “These shocking figures expose how ethnic minorities have been disproportionately affected by spiralling homelessness under Tory Ministers.
“This is yet another example of how Conservative cuts have had a particularly harsh impact on marginalised groups. David Cameron’s claims to compassionate Conservatism are dead on arrival.
“Extreme welfare cuts and six years of failure on housing have resulted in thousands more people losing their homes.
“These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg...”
