A study of the housing requirements of black and minority ethnic (BME) households in Dorset and Poole

Introduction

This study was conducted by the Salford Housing and Urban Studies Unit and the University of Salford. An executive summary is also available. 

Its overall aims were to increase the understanding of the housing needs of BME households, as well as ensuring that existing providers gave equal access to their services and integrated the needs of BME communities into their everyday activities.

The study included the Borough of Poole; Christchurch Borough Council; East Dorset District Council; North Dorset District Council; Purbeck District Council; West Dorset District Council; and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. Bournemouth Borough Council was not included in the study as they had already carried out research on BME housing needs.

Key findings

• over half the respondents to the study were living in Poole (264 of 469 respondents).
  
• 87% of respondents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live. There were differences in satisfaction among BME groups with Black/Black British respondents having the lowest level of satisfaction (69%).
  
• the majority (80%) were satisfied with their current accommodation. 7% were dissatisfied.
  
• just under half the sample (47%) has a fairly or very strong sense of belonging to their local area.