Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the experiences of Pakistani and Indian heritage tenants in a post-industrial northern English town. Research is based upon interviews with 20 residents who identify as economically marginalised, living in poor quality housing. The paper also looks at their relationship to the wider community and applies the capabilities approach to understand their experience of wellbeing.

Paper long abstract:

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, resulted from a respiratory condition caused by inadequate ventilation and exposure to mould in his home. This highlights the problems faced by minoritized communities living in private rented or social housing in the UK. Awaab’s family arrived as refugees from Sudan in 2015 and found themselves in Rochdale, a post-industrial town in the north of England. Rochdale has significant rates of ethnic diversity, deprivation, and poor housing stock . A subsequent coroners inquest found that the family’s housing options were severely limited by economic marginalisation and racial discrimination .

This presentation will focus on the housing and residency experiences of a group of tenants living in Blackburn, a post-industrial town, located 20 miles from Rochdale. The town is characterised by high rates of ethnic diversity (36%), above national average rates of child poverty (36.5% ) and high rates of covid infection and mortality . Blackburn in common with neighbouring towns also has a sizable stock of poor-quality housing and a lack of affordable accommodation (Rhodes 2012; Makin-Waite 2021). This has resulted in declining home ownership (60%), and an increase in the social housing / private rented sector (40%) . There has been concern that this will lead to an increase in “slums” and “ghettos” from which it is difficult to escape (Johnston, Forrest, and Poulsen 2002; Hancock and Mooney 2013).

The residents that form the subject of this study self-identify as Muslim of Indian or Pakistani heritage and typify the experiences of many ethnic minority groups in Blackburn. These residents referred to feeling “trapped” and “limited” by their housing opportunities, which they argued is a result of historic discriminatory policies linked to their socio-economic position. This has limited their potential for social mobility and flourishing - as housing is a key determinant of access to education, employment, healthcare, and overall wellbeing. My research draws upon the Capabilities Approach (Sen 1987; Nussbaum, Sen, and World Institute for Development Economics Research 1993; Sen 1983; 1985) to understand the multidimensionality of tenant wellbeing through their level of agency, dignity, and psycho-social wellbeing.

This is an ongoing piece of research, and I will present initial findings from the first phase which adopts a mixed-methods approach (second phase expected to conclude by September 2024). Background data was secured from the 2021 ONS Census in addition to a variety of inequalities datasets. A thorough literature review was also conducted which included white, black, and grey literature.

Primary data was collected through one-to-one semi-structured interviews which lasted between 90-120 minutes. Respondents (n=20) were recruited via one of three channels- response to an advert, referral by a trusted third sector body or snowballing. They were then screened for suitability for this study. The interviews drew upon Nussbaum’s essential capabilities (Nussbaum 2013) and were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using an interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA). The identity of respondents was protected using pseudonyms.

The scarcity of affordable housing disproportionately impacts minoritized ethnic communities and can lead to a perpetual cycle of deprivation. The interviews revealed that respondents felt ‘trapped’ and ‘forgotten’ in poor quality housing - a condition which has recently deteriorated due to an increase in fuel costs and the general ‘cost-of-living crisis’ (2022-ongoing). Several respondents shared that their experience of coronavirus lockdown made them acutely aware of how crowded and unhealthy their homes were due to multigenerational occupancy and the lack of nearby green spaces.

Despite their poor living conditions, several respondents expressed reluctance to move from the area due to the sense of community they enjoyed. Respondents highlighted the positive experience of having access to local resources including places of worship, culturally appropriate food shops and informal networks of support. This suggests the potential to apply a social capital approach to this research.

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