J. Housing

J1 Addario, S., Hiebert, D. and Sherrell, K. (2007). 'Restricted access: the role of social capital in mitigating absolute homelessness among immigrants and refugees in the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District)'. Refuge: Canada's Periodical on Refugees, 24(1), 107-115.

Research focus/aims: The paper examines the role that social capital plays in housing trajectories of immigrants, with particular attention to the experiences of refugee claimants.

Participants: The authors draw from their earlier study (Hiebert, D'Addario and Sherrell 2007)[22] and included those providing or using emergency and temporary housing, refugees who had recently been approved to stay in Canada and respondents to an Immigrant and Refugee Housing Survey (not cited in this article).

Key findings/outcomes: The paper highlights the importance of social networks in the housing careers of newcomers and argues that access to social networks varies according to the mode of entry for immigrants (for example, skilled immigrants versus refugees). It finds that refugee claimants are particularly vulnerable, given their combination of uncertain legal status, lack of official language ability and unfamiliarity with Canadian society. They are the most likely of all newcomers to 'fall between the cracks' of the housing system. The paper discusses the benefits of social capital for immigrants and refugees, especially the key role that social capital plays in the integration process.

Recommendations: There is a need for all levels of government to facilitate the development of social capital among newcomers.

Scope: The authors' earlier study involved in-depth interviews with key informants involved with emergency and temporary accommodation, data collected from users of this accommodation, in-depth interviews with refugees with a positive decision about their ability to stay in Canada and use of the Immigrant and Refugee Housing Survey.

Country research undertaken in: Canada.

Keywords: integration/social cohesion; social capital/networks; language acquisition/ESOL; host country/region: Canada; migrants, including refugees; research methods: interviews; research methods: survey.

J2 Halango, A. (2007). The housing experiences of the Auckland Somali population and their impact on the resettlement process. Unpublished thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Human Services, Faculty of Applied Humanities, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland.

Research focus/aims: The thesis examines the impact of the housing experiences of Somali resettled refugees.

Participants: Somali refugees in Auckland.

Key findings/outcomes: The thesis investigates the effect of housing policy and provision in Auckland and demonstrates the links of housing to employment, education and health.

Challenges include ethnocentrism, immigration status, household composition, socioeconomic conditions, lack of English language proficiency, a variety of educational backgrounds and unfamiliarity with institutional practices.

Recommendations: The author recommends keeping up-to-date information to increase the provider's awareness of housing experiences and their impact on the resettlement process. Policy, interventions and implementation need to address the barriers experienced by Somali refugees.

Scope: Case study approach with field data collected from focus group discussions and through a survey.

Country research undertaken in: New Zealand.

Keywords: integration/social cohesion; ethnic/cultural identity; role of host country; social capital/networks; education/training; language acquisition/ESOL housing; host country/region: New Zealand; source country/region: Somalia; research methods:: interview; research methods: case studies: research methods: survey, refugees.

J3 Phillimore, J. (2006). Feeling at home in the UK. Paper presented at the 2006 UK National Refugee Integration Conference: Belonging, June 29-30, 2006, Queens Hotel, Leeds.

Research focus/aims: This conference paper presents findings of research conducted by the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Birmingham, in which refugees were asked to consider what needs to be in place for them to feel at home in Birmingham. Particular reference was made in interviews to the Integration Matters (2005) [A28] indicators.

Participants: Fifteen refugee families and 17 single refugees in Birmingham.

Key findings/outcomes: In order of priority, key factors involved with feeling at home in Birmingham were housing, employment, English, adult education, communities, and security. Other significant issues were learning, childcare, advice, family reunion, healthcare, leisure, finance, happiness and equal opportunities:

• Housing stability was a key issue, as was overcrowding and poor quality accommodation and access to suitable furniture. The author stressed the lack of stable housing impacts on everything.
• Of those who had been employed in the United Kingdom, many were in temporary jobs and were paid the minimum wage or below. What they wanted most was a good job that reflected their skills and experience. Those on benefits wanted to get off them and support their family themselves, regardless of the nature of the job.
• Respondents recognised that speaking English enables integration with society and stressed its importance in accessing services and obtaining employment. Of those that had attended ESOL classes, most felt the level was too low. There were also long waiting lists, and moving house seriously disrupted learning as they had to enrol in new classes.
• Respondents wanted friendly neighbours and opportunities to make friends generally. Many had felt isolated and now valued being part of an ethnic or refugee community and sharing their experiences.
• There was a general feeling of insecurity, and some respondents had been harassed on the street (both physically and verbally, often by young men towards women and children). Often incidents were not reported because of a fear of retaliation, not knowing how to report the assault or dismissing verbal assaults.

Recommendations: The author suggests the following:

• Refugees need to be supported into permanent work and helped to utilise their skills. It was also important to gain faster access to better quality ESOL to speed up their access to work and vocational training.
• Government agency staff working with refugees need tools and resources, and to focus on locating stable accommodation that meets the needs of refugees, mapping pathways to employment from ESOL to training and work experience and helping to make social links and to educate refugees about dealing with harassment.

She also suggests that many projects in the United Kingdom are focused on local needs. This means that refugees gain access to projects based on where they live (i.e. their postcode), rather than their need. She suggests that the United Kingdom may want to look at Scandinavian integration projects, especially the aspects of funding and the areas in which government agencies are compulsorily obliged to take part in the programmes. She suggests that this investment has paid off both financially and in terms of cohesion. Finally, the author states that "integration indicators should stress permanence and quality, otherwise integration will not be achieved".

Scope: Small-scale study based on in-depth interviews.

Country research undertaken in: United Kingdom.

Keywords: integration/social cohesion: indicators or measures; social capital/networks; social exclusion; role of host country; dispersal policies; education/training; ESOL/language acquisition; economic participation; host country/region: United Kingdom; source country/region: mixed ethnicities; research methods: interviews; refugees.

J4 Phillips, D. (2005). 'Moving towards integration: the housing of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain'. Housing Studies, 21(4), 539-553.

Research focus/aims: The paper examines steps that have been taken to facilitate refugees' and asylum seekers' access to decent, safe and affordable housing.

Participants: Local housing providers and community workers.

Key findings/outcomes: The paper discusses the national immigration policy and housing options, including the dispersal policy. It notes that this has produced significant challenges for housing providers, local residents and new migrants. Few areas have refugee housing strategies, yet these newcomers often need more support because of the trauma of forced migration, public hostility and lack of community support networks. The situation is particularly difficult for single refugees, who may not have priority for social housing and may have trouble securing a private tenancy.

Recommendations: Communities need to prepare for the arrival of refugees and asylum seekers and provide ongoing support, including involving and consulting with refugees when developing strategies. Communities also need a proactive policy to smooth the transition to permanent accommodation and to reduce racial harassment.

Scope: The paper draws on a qualitative study across five English localities. The author interviewed local housing providers and seven community workers and reviewed published documents.

Country research undertaken in: United Kingdom.

Keywords: role of host country; social capital/networks; social exclusion; dispersal policies; housing; host country/region: United Kingdom; research methods: interviews; research methods: review; refugees, including asylum seekers/

J5 Phillips, D. (2006). 'Integration of new migrants: housing'. In S. Spencer (Ed.), Refugees and other new migrants: a review of the evidence on successful approaches to integration (pp. 22-36). Oxford: Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS).

Research focus/aims: Review of housing-related issues for new migrants.

Participants: Not applicable.

Key findings/outcomes: Identifies a lack of reliable data on the geographic mobility of refugees and new migrants and on the tenure and quality of their housing. The literature suggests that housing experiences are often characterised by instability and vulnerability. Outcomes are influenced by government policies, the limited resources of new migrants, the policies and practices of housing providers and the search for a safe, supportive environment. Positive policy interventions include preparation for the arrival of new migrants and refugees, continuing support, move-on support when refugees or new migrants have to move from temporary accommodation and steps to prevent homelessness. Success depends on a holistic approach, cultural sensitivity, expertise in new migrant and refugee issues, integrated services including legal advice, recreational and interpreting services and flexible service provision.

Recommendations: The author concludes that it is not possible to recommend good practice that will apply equally well in all localities for all groups of new migrants or refugees. The paper recognises the difficulties of multiagency working while noting that this is what is needed.

Scope: Reviews issues in measuring new migrants' housing outcomes and identifies the need to take into account safety and racial harassment; covers UK literature.

Country research undertaken in: United Kingdom.

Keywords: integration/social cohesion: indicators or measures; role of host country; housing; host country/region: United Kingdom; source country/region: mixed ethnicities; migrants, including refugees; research methods: review.

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