Join us for a live discussion on the future role of BME housing organisations from midday on Monday 23 April
"Something has gone wrong with race and housing" wrote Harris Beider, professor of community cohesion at Coventry University, in an article for the housing network this month.
The black and minority ethnic (BME) housing sector has changed dramatically since its first period of rapid growth in the 1980s. Changes to social policy slashed the funding available for BME organisations, leaving housing associations unable to compete financially with their larger, general needs peers. Meanwhile EU migration regulations has led to an influx of European minority groups, left uncatered for by the traditional BME sector.
The plight of BME housing associations caught the headlines in 2008 with the demise of Ujima housing association. Once a respected BME provider with a 30-year history and £1bn in assets, the organisation became the first association to go bust before its homes were transferred to London & Quadrant – one of the country's largest, broadest housing associations.
Many other struggling BME housing associations are also being slowly absorbed by larger, richer providers – often at the expense of their identity as BME landlords.
In this testing environment, what is the future for BME housing? How can specialist housing associations adapt to new immigration patterns, and how can mainstream housing associations continue to serve specific racial and ethnic communities if they merge with dedicated BME landlords?
Join our expert panel from 12pm on Monday 23 April to discuss the future of BME housing with our panel of experts, or leave your comment in advance now.
Panel TBA
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