Addressing the housing needs of minority ethnic communities: Towards a pluralistic housing policy

The need for an ethnically sensitive housing policy has been highlighted by academic research which has documented the differential housing outcomes experienced between ethnic groups within national boundaries. A particular cause of concern has been the housing inequalities of minority ethnic communities, who are often concentrated in parts of urban areas which are
neglected by the private market, and where other social welfare goods face pressure from high demand. State intervention is often the response to these 'problems', however it may take divergent forms. For example the advocacy of the distribution of additional state resources from the political left, and the advocacy of social control from the political right. These approaches often appear to be paternalistic majority ethnic 'solutions' on behalf of, and for 'the other'. An alternative approach is offered by grassroots activism within minority ethnic communities. Demands for greater
resources, but also significantly for more community control over resources, provide an important challenge to the future construction of social policy. They assert the primacy of empowerment and self help over paternalism, and question the validity of social engineering which may emanate from top down
policy implementation.