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Go to P3 Housing
The Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) recently released a ground breaking report on race, ethnicity and homelessness in the UK. Its findings are sobering: Black people in the UK are four times more likely to experience homelessness than white people, revealing deep-rooted inequalities in housing, employment and access to services.
As we mark Black History Month this October, P3 Charity reflects on these findings and the urgent need to address the systemic exclusion that drives homelessness among Black communities.
The I-SPHERE study highlights that Black and minoritised households face barriers at every level of housing access. For example, only 11% of migrant-headed households access social housing compared to 17% of UK-born households. While this gap may seem small, it reinforces a trend of systemic disadvantage.
At P3, we recognise that homelessness doesn’t exist in isolation – it’s linked to historic and structural inequalities. That’s why, during Black History Month, we are committed to shining a light on the disproportionate impact of homelessness on Black communities and calling for sector-wide change.
Perhaps one of the most jarring findings from the report is the extent to which Black people feel pressured to change or conceal aspects of their identity to avoid discrimination.
One participant shared: “My sister… had to start watching YouTube channels to speak with a proper English accent… she said it’s working for her.”
Another explained: “I’ve had to cut my hair to be able to access more services.”
A third admitted: “I don’t like to just tell people anything, about my nationality, about my status.”
These are not isolated experiences but rather reflect a wider culture of exclusion that limits opportunities and excludes ethnic identity. As the report notes, poor diversity competency across public and voluntary sector services continues to create barriers.
For P3, this underscores why we must work to ensure our community spaces are places where people can come as they are, – without fear of prejudice or pressure to change their identity.
The I-SPHERE research also shows how a lack of cultural understanding in frontline services compounds homelessness risk. This includes:
failure to meet language needs;
neglecting religious, cultural or dietary requirements; and
overlooking identity when designing support services.
These failings erode trust in services, leaving many Black and minoritised people reluctant to seek support at all. The result is a cycle of systemic exclusion and heightened risk of homelessness.
P3 recognises this as a sector-wide issue – one that can only be tackled through better cultural competency, staff education and creating genuinely inclusive services.
At P3, we acknowledge the inequalities highlighted in the report and we are committed to doing better. Our approach is not just about providing housing or support, but about building trust and belonging and strengthening our people-centric approach, co-designed with the people we support. Some of the ways we work towards this include:
Educational settings: Running ‘lunch-and-learns’, helping the people we support access English language courses and cooking groups that build cultural understanding within our accommodation services.
Accessible resources: Ensuring our website and information are easy to use for everyone, including people who speak English as an additional language.
Engagement with Black History Month: Using this time to reflect, amplify voices and improve our practices.
Representation at every level: Leveraging our People Board to ensure lived experience informs our decisions.
Commitment to EDI: Building on the recognition through our recent TIDE Award and continuing to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all of our work.
By embedding these principles, P3 strives to create an organisation where support is not only non-discriminatory, but also identity-informed and culturally sensitive.
Black History Month is a time for celebration, but also a time for reflection and action. The I-SPHERE report makes it clear that Black communities in the UK continue to face systemic barriers to housing and support.
At P3, we believe homelessness is not inevitable, but rather the product of systems that can – and must – change. By acknowledging systemic exclusion, listening to those with lived experiences and holding ourselves accountable, we can begin to build a fairer system where everyone has a place to call home.
Get in touch with us: info@p3charity.org
