Putting Inclusion Back into Community-led Housing

Community-led housing, and related models like Community Land Trusts (CLTs), empower people to create, develop and manage their own housing and land. As such, they give people the opportunity to overcome disadvantage and unaffordability when trying to find a home.

Back on October 18th, I had the privilege of attending the launch of a groundbreaking report, Community-led housing for all: Opportunities and challenges for black and minority ethnic community-led housing.

The birth of community-led housing

The beginnings of community-led housing can be traced back to radical grassroots social movements seeking to challenge the status quo and empower marginalised communities. For example, during the 1960s, Community Land Trusts (CLTs) were set up in the American South by New Communities Inc, a civil rights group, to secure land ownership and housing for black sharecroppers. From there on, the CLT model spread.

The Champlain Housing Trust in Vermont, USA, founded in 1984 during a time of economic crisis and disinvestment, has grown to become the largest CLT in the country. Born from a vision of housing justice, the Trust was rooted in the idea that communities—especially those historically marginalised—should have control over land and housing to break cycles of exploitation and displacement. In 2008, the Trust won the World Habitat Award for its pioneering work and impact.

In the UK, the tradition of community-led housing goes back to the 1970s, with groups of residents banding together to address the failures of the housing market and local authorities. Co-operatives and co-housing schemes emerged as alternatives, giving local people a voice in the design, ownership, and management of their homes.

What the research says

The report provides examples of inspiring community-led housing projects. But it also raises critical questions about inclusivity within the movement. Although there is a long and rich history of black and minority ethnic community-led housing solutions in the UK, many of the people who pioneered the movement faced significant institutional and structural discrimination. And while today there is real potential for these projects to act as a catalyst for a new wave of community-led housing, the uncomfortable truth is that the community-led housing sector is not as inclusive as it should be.

Barriers for black and minority ethnic communities

The new research reveals a striking imbalance: black and minority ethnic communities are underrepresented in the community-led housing sector. They face multiple barriers to setting up housing schemes including institutional racism, indicated by:

• a lack of representation within key bodies.
• a lack of access to funding.
• and low levels of awareness of the benefits of community-led housing amongst communities.

The report is clear: if we are serious about tackling inequality, then these systemic barriers must be tackled head-on.

Recommendations for a more inclusive future

The report makes a number of important recommendations to improve access for black and minority ethnic communities including:

• Policy Reforms: Changes in housing and planning policies to address systemic inequalities and barriers.
• Increased Funding Support: Ensure targeted funding streams are available.
• Awareness Campaigns: Celebrate and share the examples of black and minority ethnic community-led housing models.
• Representation and Leadership: Community-led housing networks and decision-making bodies need to improve representation.
• Collaborative partnerships: Housing associations, local authorities, and other stakeholders should collaborate with black and minority ethnic groups organisations to support their efforts.

Learning from history, building a fairer future

The report’s findings are a call for justice and empowerment. They urge the community-led housing sector to embrace its original ethos of inclusivity and to expand its scope to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or background, can benefit from the opportunities it provides.

We have an opportunity now to build a community-led housing movement that is truly reflective of society and is diverse, inclusive, and just. But for this to happen, action must be taken to dismantle the barriers black and minority ethnic communities face. The recommendations in this report provide a clear roadmap for that change.

Research

‘Community-led housing for all: Opportunities and challenges for black and minority ethnic community-led housing’ is co-authored by a team of practitioners and academics: Claude Hendrickson MBE from Leeds Community Homes, Henri Baptiste, Pathway Housing Solutions Dr Tom Moore from the University of Liverpool and Dr Yael Arbell from Sheffield Hallam University.

It is based on underlying research initiated by Claude Hendrickson MBE and Henri Baptiste and undertaken in collaboration with Dr Tom Moore and Dr Yael Arbell.