At Caring in Bristol, we frequently remind people that homelessness is not inevitable. We shine a light on difficulties caused when the systems that we all rely on fail. Improving and building better systems is essential in moving towards homelessness and housing insecurity becoming a thing of the past. Looking at these things through the lens of Black history, we see examples of systemic failures; the impact they had at the time, and their repercussions.

We’ve chosen to look several points in British history that have directly impacted on housing security for Black people. The impact of these has played out over generations.

Windrush Era (1948 to 1973)

Enabled by the British Nationality Act of 1948, many Black people were able to migrate to the UK from Commonwealth countries. The arrival of the ship HMT Windrush (which carried over 800 passengers from the Caribbean) was a landmark moment. These passengers, and those that followed them, provided vital support to a developing NHS and other essential roles. Housing and other legislation did not hold up to their needs.

Hostile environment

By 2012 the Home Secretary at the time (Theresa May MP) introduced a hostile environment policy. Its intention was to make it difficult for those without leave to remain to stay in the UK. It pushed an obligation on landlords (and other institutions such as employers, banks, and health services) to enforce immigration controls. Landlords were required to verify the immigration status of prospective tenants, facing fines, and even imprisonment, for those who didn’t comply with this policy.

“Foreseeable and avoidable”

This encouraged landlords to discriminate against Black people to avoid outright the complications of complying with its demands. It also had a direct and devastating consequence on many people from the Windrush Generation. This was not inevitable, but the result of a poorly designed system. Children who had arrived on their parents’ passports lacked documentation to evidence their legal right to remain, made worse by the Home Office previously destroying thousands of landing cards and documentation. This led to them being re-categorised as illegal immigrants, impacting their rights and ability to access housing, benefits, and healthcare. Some were detained, or removed to countries they were unfamiliar with, not considering it to be their home. A review following this high-profile system failure found the whole affair was “foreseeable and avoidable.” (Windrush Lessons Learned Review, author: Wendy Williams.) Repercussions are still happening today in 2025.

Post-War and “Rachmanism”

After WW2 Black migrants faced discrimination throughout the housing market. Direct barriers to housing, and steering them towards poor-quality housing was common. Peter Rachman was an infamous landlord who exploited people with limited options, and earnt rent from poor-quality slum-like properties. This form of unscrupulous letting became known as “Rachmanism” after his threatening and illegal behaviour.  He particularly targeted recent migrants from the West Indies. No level of housing insecurity or homelessness is acceptable, yet the lack of equalities legislation to protect people from discrimination and injustice allowed black communities to experience housing insecurity at higher levels than other groups of people. (Read more about legislation, housing, and equality in our blog)

Right to Buy: The Housing Act of 1980

In 1980, the Housing Act introduced council tenants’ right to buy. Stocks of social homes depleted over the following decades, massively contributing to the shortages of affordable housing that is such a huge issue today. Wealth inequality has meant that many Black people have been unable to afford to buy a home, and the dwindling stocks of housing have made it difficult to access good quality, affordable homes in the social or private rental sector. The main beneficiaries of Right to Buy were generations of predominantly white families already benefiting from social housing up until that point. Black families, who historically had been disadvantaged by this system, were far less likely to be able to exercise this right.

Housing options and choices

While we have moved beyond the horrors of Rachmanism, communities that have disproportionately lower incomes are more likely to have fewer options, and be forced to live in sub-standard housing. Until we have a supply of affordable and good-quality housing, Black communities are more likely than many other groups to experience housing insecurity and pushed towards living in run down and overcrowded housing, often in inner-city areas. Disproportionately limited housing options are inherently unfair, with many Black people having to make housing choices that impact on all aspects of their lives.

Black people in England are 4 times more likely to face/experience homelessness than white people (Check the research!)

Black households make up 4% of our population, yet they represent more than 10% of applicants for support with housing. (Check the stats!)

Unchecked systems

The phenomenon of gentrification, and soaring property costs, has become another driving factor in widening this equality gap. This is affecting us all, because it embeds inequality deeper into the fabric of our communities, and prices people out of the area that they live. For Black communities who are already at a disadvantage, this is further pressure on their housing situation. Systemically, we have nothing that is effectively keeping the affordability of property and rents in check, and as a society we are failing to care enough about housing needs.

Homes are a foundation for life

Our homes are the foundation for every aspect of our lives, and it is profoundly unfair and unjust that Black communities, and others, still do not have the adequate protection and support of systems. Looking back through history clearly shows there have been many foreseeable and avoidable systemic failures that have negatively impacted on Black people. As a society, we need to do better to make all homelessness and housing insecurity history - and in doing so, ensure that we no longer leave Black people, and other disproportionately affected groups of people, behind. Our housing, and housing systems, must be built and rebuilt with equity, fairness, and a real understanding of the diverse ways in which we live.

Visit Black History Month website

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