Kirklees Council: An evidence base for the housing needs of older, ethnic minority communities

Kirklees Council commissioned a research study to better understand how preferences in the ageing ethnic minority populations affects housing needs across the district. The purpose was to gather evidence the council can use to inform investment decisions about future housing for older people.


Introduction

Like many other areas in the UK, Kirklees has an ageing population. The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to increase by nearly 40 per cent by 2031 and the rate of change for the 75+ and 85+ age groups is higher in Kirklees than the regional and national averages.

Compared to comparator local areas, Kirklees has a significant ethnic minority population that is ageing, with particularly large South Asian and African / African Caribbean communities. Data from 2016 identified that over 25 per cent of all ethnic minority households were in some form of housing need (compared with 11 per cent of all households in the district).

The council commissioned a research study to better understand how preferences in the ageing ethnic minority populations affects housing (and housing related support) needs across the district. The purpose was to gather evidence the council can use to inform investment decisions about future housing for older people.

The council’s approach

Creating an evidence base of the views of mainly South Asian and African / African Caribbean communities about housing and support, this research aimed to:

  • Measure the how the existing supply of private and social specialist housing meets the needs and preferences of older people from ethnic minorities.
  • Explore the factors that specifically affect older people from ethnic minorities take up of specialist housing products and recommend what can be done to address this.
  • Explore the aspirations of ‘younger’ older people in ethnic minority communities for later living accommodation.
  • Project specialist housing need and demand for older people from ethnic minority communities across sub-market areas in the short, medium and long term.

The council has undertaken extensive engagement with citizens from primarily South Asian and African / African Caribbean communities, including using local community researchers and setting up a Sounding Group made up of local community members. The council also set up a sounding group made up of local community members to help shape the project method, identify gaps and to act as a sounding board for initial and final findings.

Outcomes

Kirklees Council will use the recommendations from the study to strengthen ongoing or planned work around housing for, or the services used by, older people from ethnic minority communities. This includes:

  • reviewing current housing and support options to be more inclusive for all
  • delivering culturally and/or religiously competent housing and services
  • providing more information on housing and support options that is accessible to all communities
  • helping to tackle inequalities in Kirklees
  • complementing dedicated engagement and consultation on new housing developments
  • informing the council’s review of its older people support services
  • contributing to a review of the council’s housing allocations policy
  • informing the next Strategic Housing Market Assessment.

The council will, where possible, continue to draw on the experience and knowledge of the sounding group made up of local people to ensure future housing and support services are inclusive for all.