Homeward Bound: how housing affects refugees in the UK

The quality and conditions of housing, its affordability, the security it offers, how it is accessed and, indeed, the housing system as a whole all combine to influence the lives of everyone in society. Poverty and wider factors such as employment, education and health inequalities amplify the significance housing plays in mitigating or exacerbating the challenges associated with their housing, and chances of experiencing homelessness. These issues are not experienced equally by all members of society and those living on the fringes of society routinely experience the worst housing outcomes and negative experiences. Refugees are one such group. Whilst the experiences of refugees have much in common with those of other vulnerable groups; refugees are typically multiply disadvantaged.

This talk draws on published evidence, available data and from recent research undertaken by the speakers. This research sought to understand the housing pathways and experiences of refugees who had settled in the UK over a 30-year period. It involved an extensive scoping review of the literature and in-depth research with over 80 refugees and 60 policy actors and practitioners. Research participants were mainly drawn from the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK.

Drawing on this evidence this talk discusses the lives refugees have in the UK with respect to their housing situations. It details the different routes refugees have available to them to enter the UK and describes how these relate to their housing circumstances and wider impacts their housing has in their lives.