My colour speaks before me: How racism and discrimination affect Black and Black Mixed heritage people’s access to social homes in England
Published on 1 January, 2025.
A social home offers people solid foundations to get on in life. Yet social housing in England is in desperately short supply, leaving record numbers of people homeless in temporary accommodation and 1.3 million households to endure the constant strain of being on the waiting list. Systemic racism and discrimination intensify barriers to social homes for Black people and People of Colour. More broadly, the housing emergency in England impacts Black people and People of Colour most severely , leading to higher rates of homelessness and poor conditions . It is unacceptable that racism is still ingrained in the housing system, and urgent action is needed to dismantle these inequalities. This research turns our focus outwards, investigating what social housing providers and the national government must do to ensure equitable access to social homes.