Ethnic Minorities Face Housing Crisis, Spend More for Poorer Conditions

Recent research highlights the significant housing challenges faced by ethnic minority communities in the UK, revealing that they spend a larger percentage of their income on housing compared to White British households, yet often live in overcrowded and substandard conditions. The Resolution Foundation's study found that Bangladeshi and Arab adults allocate 23% and 26% of their income to housing, respectively, while White British adults spend only 11%. Despite higher average incomes, ethnic minorities, including Chinese and Indian residents, still face affordability issues, largely due to low home ownership rates and systemic discrimination. Additionally, one in six Pakistani, Black African, and other Black adults live in overcrowded homes, making them significantly more likely to face such conditions than their White counterparts. The Centre for Ageing Better emphasizes that older individuals from minority backgrounds are particularly affected, with over half a million facing health complications linked to inadequate housing. The findings call for urgent reforms to address these disparities and improve living conditions for marginalized communities.