CIH: Migrants should be given housing priority

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has recommended that migrants should be given priority by housing providers.

A guide it has published - Housing and Migration: A guide to issues and solutions - on behalf of the Housing and Migration Network recognises that migrants are now a key client group for most housing organisations.

Two years of research went into the guide which looks at the pressure that migration has put on the UK housing market.

John Perry, policy advisor for CIH and author of the guide, said: “Housing providers need to know more about new communities that exist in the areas in which they work in so they can adequately deliver the appropriate services.”

“More than one-third of people living in London are foreign born which means migrants are more than likely already a part of housing providers tenants profile and this guide is urging social landlords to engage with the issues surrounding providing services to migrant groups.

“This guide will help you identify these communities, understand their needs and enable you to find out about and work with migrant community groups and support organisations.”  

The Housing and Migration Network was jointly founded by Housing Associations' Charitable Trust (HACT), the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Metropolitan Migration Foundation.