Needs and Empowerment in Minority Ethnic Housing: some issuesof definition and local strategy

Universalised concepts of housing needs and solutions are difficult to sustain in a context of ethnic diversity. On the other hand it is not easy for policy makers to find straightforward substitutes that can be operationalised. Some governmental agencies may be moving towards strategies of ‘ethnic managerialism’ which acknowledge differentiation, but this is not without its dangers. Drawing on research on minority ethnic housing circumstances in Leeds, this paper explores some key issues that arise in relation to needs, preferences and local strategies. Pursuing a culturally sensitive policy could be complex, but implies supplementing ideas of basic standards with strategies of empowerment.