More support needed for older residents in BAME communities, Manningham Housing Association CEO tells inquiry

The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has told a Westminster inquiry that he believes more support should be given to older residents from black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
Michael Crossland
By Michael Crossland
Published 7th Sep 2023, 06:00 BST

Giving evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People investigation into the regeneration of outdated sheltered housing, Lee Bloomfield told the inquiry that he believes better choices are needed, both in terms of quality and location, for older people from BAME communities wishing to downsize their properties.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Mr Bloomfield also called for more research into the challenges faced in local authority areas with high percentages of BAME residents.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said that MHA - which owns just over 1400 properties in Bradford and Keighley but has more than 2,000 people on waiting lists - had adopted a “patch and mend” approach to try and keep older people in their current homes.

MHA chief executive Lee Bloomfield (centre) gives evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People inquiry in the House of Lords.MHA chief executive Lee Bloomfield (centre) gives evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People inquiry in the House of Lords.
MHA chief executive Lee Bloomfield (centre) gives evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing and Older People inquiry in the House of Lords.

Mr Bloomfield added: “it cannot be ignored that older people from BAME communities have an increasing housing and care need yet lack the choice to culturally downsize into smaller and more manageable homes.

“We recognise that the majority of mainstream providers of older people’s accommodation are not meeting the cultural needs of all BAME communities. There needs to be a financial incentive to move forward by way of grants from Homes England that reflect the scale of what is needed and offers solutions to address the growing problem of outdated older persons stock.”

The MHA chief executive told the inquiry that “one size fits all does not work for all groups and places,” adding, “we need better choices for older people from BAME communities and we need different solutions.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework sets out that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require supported housing.

As part of its recent consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework, the Government also set out that local authorities should plan for the needs of older people, including for retirement, housing with care and care homes.

A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to helping elderly and vulnerable people live independently for longer and feel connected to their communities. We have established a new independent taskforce that will assess how we can provide a greater choice of housing for older people.”

The taskforce will be led by Professor Julienne Meyer CBE, a registered nurse who led research in Care for Older People at City, University of London for over two decades. It will make recommendations to ministers within the next twelve months.

Related topics:BAMEGovernmentHouse of Lords