Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups are being disproportionately impacted by homelessness, new figures have revealed.
Annual homelessness figures in England show black people are three times more likely to experience homelessness.
A quarter of people making homelessness applications to local councils are from BAME groups, even though they make up just 11% of all households.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter said: “On the first day of Black History Month, it is vital we address the deep inequality and systemic racism that persists in the housing system and continues to deny thousands a safe home. It is both telling and appalling to see black people and others who are BAME disproportionately impacted by homelessness.
’We must act fast, because the pandemic we are now enduring is only intensifying the housing emergency and its destructive inequalities. We know black people are more likely to be homeless or live in overcrowded homes putting them at greater risk from this virus.’
