£3 MILLION TO TACKLE ETHINIC MINORITY HOMELESSNESS
(20 June 2006)

£3 million has been awarded to projects across the country to tackle homelessness among ethnic minority groups. The successful bids were announced today by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly. Ethnic minority households face a disproportionate risk of experiencing homelessness. They represented 21% of households accepted as homeless by local authorities in 2004-05, but comprise only 8 per cent of the UK population.

The Ethnic Minorities Innovation Fund (EMIF) will provide financial support to voluntary and community groups working in partnership with local authorities, to help deliver innovative projects that aim to reduce levels of homelessness amongst ethnic minority groups. Successful projects range from helping victims of domestic violence to supporting 11-25 year olds to gain life skills so that they avoid experiencing homelessness.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly said; "We know that ethnic minority households are at disproportionate risk of social exclusion, and in the case of homelessness this is no exception as ethnic minorities are around three times as likely to become homeless compared to the rest of the population.

"We need to do more to tackle this problem, which is why I'm pleased to be announcing these successful projects. Just last week we announced a further reduction in new cases of homelessness, but we need to make sure these reductions are sustained across all communities. Ultimately however we need to build more houses so that people have access to a settled home."

Today's announcement delivers on the commitment made in the Government's homelessness strategy published in March 2005 'Sustainable communities: settled homes, changing lives' to fund and support innovative approaches to tackle homelessness amongst ethnic minority groups.

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