THE EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS OF BEING A MIGRANT IN BRITAIN
community, both as a new hate subject (as Eastern Europeans) and an old one (as Roma). A crop of new work on Eastern European migrants (Markova and Black, 2007; Spencer et al, 2007; Robinson et al, 2007; Phillimore et al, 2007) has provided some useful detail, especially in the two most recent studies that look at localities (Robinson in Sheffield and Phillimore in the East Midlands). Spencer found that 44 per cent of the migrants interviewed were sharing a room and a third of them had moved in the last eight months, although agricultural workers reported a higher level of satisfaction with their accommodation (which is more regulated) than others. Robinson examined the ‘housing careers’ of four groups of new immigrants: two mainly refugee communities (Liberian and Somali), one arriving to join a more settled community (Pakistani) and one new migrant (Polish). He identified typical ‘housing careers’ and found that: • The housing situations and experiences of new immigrants represent a composite of the familiar experiences of various disadvantaged groups within the housing system. •
The opportunities for new immigrants to effect a positive change in their housing situation are distinct and different from those of other disadvantaged groups.
He identified the policy framework and legal system as key factors in this disadvantage, rather than, for example, cultural or locality factors. But he also pointed out that, until their longer residence begins to ‘iron out’ these legal differences, it will not be possible to see whether other discrimination, such as that on the grounds of race or religion, begins to have a greater impact. Although the samples were fairly evenly divided among men and women, no findings were made in relation to gender. All immigrants in the study were between 20 and 55 years old and none reported any disabilities. Zaronaite and Tirzite (2006) reported migrants describing unfair treatment that is probably discrimination in the housing sector, mostly by estate agents. Migrant workers stated that estate agents refused to rent property to them without giving reasons and that they had been treated disrespectfully. Phillimore and Goodson (2008) looked in detail at A8 migrants in the East Midlands and found: •
Excessive rent levels and poor quality of accommodation.
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Poor knowledge about rights and entitlements.
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Local authority reluctance to deal with the housing needs of migrant workers (in relation to homelessness).
Other work has been less detailed or conclusive. Babaylan (2007) identified housing as a significant problem for women Filipina migrants. The Shelter (2007) report 102