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This presentation discusses the project aimed at linking services for Black and minority ethnic (BME) homeless individuals. It covers target groups, disadvantages tackled, methodology, best practices, and recommendations.
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LINKING SERVICES FOR BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC (BME) HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS (LSP) MARCH 2005 – JULY 2007 RACE ON THE AGENDA Dr. Theo Gavrielides, Head of Policy theo@rota.org.uk
Presentation overview • Who are we? • The project: target groups, disadvantages tackled, deliverables, methodology. • Best practice – pilots, examples and challenges. • Conclusions & recommendations.
RACE ON THE AGENDA ROTAis a social policy think tank devoted to issues that affect Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in London. Key policy priorities are: • Crime & Antisocial Behaviour. • Equalities & Human Rights. • Community Cohesion. • Education, Health & Social Services. • Social Inclusion & Homelessness. • Regional Governance.
Linking Services for Black & minority ethnic homeless individuals Project (LSP) • TO TEST: referral routes between BME and homeless provision over a period of a year. • TO MAP: BME training provision for BME homeless individuals. • TO RAISE AWARENESS: of mainstream and BME organisations of the needs of BME homeless individuals seeking routes out of inactivity and worklessness. • TO CREATE UNDERSTANDING: of the challenges faced and the work produced by the BME and homeless sectors. • TO PROVIDE SUPPORT & MENTORING: to 15 BME homeless individuals (e.g. training on service users participation techniques, information on their rights and possible routes out of homelessness and worklessness). • BEST PRACTISE SHARING: through a best practice toolkit in partnership with mainstream and BME homeless service provides and a directory of BME homeless Education Advice and Training services.
Target groups BME homeless individuals (sample of 15). BME homeless organisations. Mainstream (voluntary, community sector, public) homeless organisations. Disadvantages Covered BME/ Homeless/ unemployed – disabled. BME/ Homeless/ unemployed - ex-offenders. BME/ Homeless/ unemployed – new arrivals (lack of language skills, lack of the knowledge of the country etc). BME/ Homeless/ unemployed – mental health. BME/ Homeless/ unemployed – substance abuse. LSP: Target groups & Disadvantages covered
Phase 1 (Round 1 & 2) Scoping exercise (completed). Project Brief (completed). Desk Research (completed). Fieldwork - qualitative research (under way). Stakeholder engagement/ consultation (ongoing). Phase 2 (Round 3) Communication & dissemination strategy. Awareness raising. Policy/ legislative input: local – national – European levels. Methodology
Best practice: findings so far “Ideal services” as seen by the service user (BME homeless individuals) – interviews/ questionnaires & focus groups: - Organisations that provide verbal explanations of benefit rights and how to claim them. - Accurate, timely and tailored information to queries not vague “problems”. - User-friendly, accessible (language) info (e.g. on housing benefits). - Multiple disadvantages being addressed by one key worker. - Addressing their fears (e.g. working in informal and unofficial employment sector – disadvantages and dangers). - Organisations that provide employment cultural orientation (cultural sensitive).
Challenges & pitfalls • Xenophobia & racism (the anti-Muslim backlash following the London bombings, anti EU sentiments and negative press coverage of migration). - vulnerable single male BME Homeless Individuals/ mainstream organisations/ temporary shared accommodation. • Lack of coordination to address multiple disadvantages. • Lack of training to deal with multiple disadvantages. • Funding: does not support links across sectors and between organisations and promote competition for clients and funding.
Challenges & Pitfalls • Inadequate systems to assess and record BME disadvantages. The challenge is how to make the system fit the people. • Definitions (race, BME, addiction, domestic violence). Not corresponding to the realities of multi-disadvantaged BME homeless people. • Adult literacy funding under threat (training and activity opportunities for BME homeless individuals, including language skills).
Conclusions • Scope for partnership: BME and Homeless sectors. • Considerable support for this from within the two sectors themselves. • Homeless agencies generally have a wider variety of referral sources than BME organisations. • Homeless Agencies are less likely to report formal links with BME organisations than BME organisations were to Homeless Agencies; • No specific studies have been conducted that examine the links between the BME and Homeless sectors. • LSP: to establish links between BME organisations and Homeless agencies that can be organised under 4 broad headings – information sharing activities; partnership development activities; events and resource provision; and staff development activities. • Findings and conclusions to be reported in June 2006.
Race on the Agenda (ROTA) Budapest October 2006 Unit 101, Cremer Business Centre 37 Cremer Street , London E2 8HD 020 7729 1310, 020 7739 6712 (fax), www.rota.org.uk