Equality and housing update
For the first time, we are able to set our own housing agenda in Wales. The proposals in the Housing Bill present us with unprecedented opportunities to further promote equality for all but we need to make sure that these opportunities are maximised and that nobody misses out. Especially people with protected characteristics
Gypsies and Travellers
One of the main areas of the Bill that is very much welcomed by us and our partners is the proposed duty to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers. We know that there is a big gap between supply and demand for sites in Wales. There are already strong business and obvious moral arguments for site provision but it is quite clear that these have not been sufficient as the last sites in Wales were built as long ago as in 1997.
To make this duty work as intended we need to ensure that local authorities, partners and Gypsies and Travellers themselves are supported through the process as site provision is unfortunately a contentious issue. Welsh Government should support local authorities through guidance and assistance on issues such as facilitating and supporting strong leadership or clear and focused local communication strategies.
There is a great need to do more work with the media portrayal of Gypsy and Traveller communities, which tends to focus on negative aspects of these communities and more community engagement. Effective management of current sites is also a prerequisite to better community relations. Tai Pawb has already received requests for assistance from some local authority members, especially in relation to practical learning from those developments that have worked in the past and we are looking forward to facilitating this practical knowledge exchange.
Private rented sector
We also strongly support the proposals around private rented sector registration and licensing regime. If implemented, the proposals will provide the first step towards a better promotion of equality and protection of human rights of groups such as ethnic minority communities and migrants who tend to utilise private rented sector to a much greater extent. According to Census 2011, in Wales 15 per cent of White people live in the private rented sector compared to 52 per cent of Arabs and over 45 per cent of Chinese people or Black Africans.
There is good practice in the sector and Tai Pawb recognises the vital contribution that private sector housing is making towards the provision of accommodation and alleviation of homelessness. However, there is also far too much negative behaviour and, considering the above statistics, mistreatment of private tenants will always have much greater indirect impact on BME people. Although at times it can be quite direct – consider for example the recent BBC undercover investigation that found that 10 out of 10 letting agents were willing to discriminate against prospective tenants on the grounds of race.
The proposals are also particularly important because both homelessness and poverty levels amongst BME people are much higher in Wales than amongst the majority population. If we don’t work with the private rented sector, we risk further marginalising BME people in Wales.
The regime should also be a prerequisite for ensuring that the new opportunity to discharge homelessness duty to the private rented sector does not lead to greater uncertainty for and worse treatment of those who are most in need. Licensing, registration and accreditation can be used to ensure and communicate appropriate treatment of those who may be vulnerable or disadvantaged due to learning or other disabilities or mental ill health. Greater engagement between social and private rented sector could also mean that more is understood about the real market need and business case for accessible housing and more is done to meet this need. We think that diluting the private rented sector proposals in any way would be a real step backwards for equality.
Homelessness
Finally, the new approach and duties related to homelessness are all welcome developments although not nearly as robust as the proposals in the White Paper, which considered making redundant the notions of intentionality or priority need when providing ALL of those who are homeless with a ‘safe place to stay’. This would have made a world of a difference to groups such as non-priority need asylum seekers who unfortunately have limited access to support or those ex-offenders who are not classed as vulnerable but may have complex support needs not related
to custody. The latter group will no longer be classed as priority need and it is yet to be seen how these proposals will mitigate against the negative equality impact, for example on people with mental health problems (who are over represented amongst prison population).
Nevertheless, the extended period of 56 days to deal with homelessness cases and greater focus on prevention will undoubtedly improve the current situation, especially if accompanied by a shift in culture and appropriate guidance from Welsh Government which takes account of the needs of people with protected characteristics.
We are looking forward to following the passage of the Bill and believe that both the Assembly and the government will closely consider and monitor the Bill’s impact on the diverse communities of Wales.
Alicja Zalesinska, Director, Tai Pawb, alicja@taipawb.org
For more information on how Tai Pawb can help your organisation with customer profiling or equality impact assessments, contact us at info@taipawb.org or 029 2053 7630. Twitter: @TaiPawb