Enfield an example of area where “harm related to homelessness is exacerbated” among GRT community, according to London charity, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Enfield Civic Centre and (inset) a caravan (credit Wikimedia Commons)

Enfield Council is not doing enough to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people facing homelessness in the borough, according to a London charity which supports them.

Nancy Hawker, a policy and research officer at London Gypsies and Travellers, which aids homeless people from these communities in the capital, says the way that Enfield Council communicates with them needs reforming.

London Gypsies and Travellers partnered with Roma Support Group to publish a report on GRT people experiencing homelessness in the capital, which mentions Enfield as an example of where “harm related to homelessness was exacerbated” due to the civic centre’s failure to “communicate clearly with providers and users of emergency and temporary accommodation”.

In February the report was presented to the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a United Nations treaty organisation entrusted with overseeing the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Nancy said: “Out of 88 acute cases that presented through London in 2024, 33 were in Enfield. That’s more than a third, so something happened in Enfield, particularly in 2024 – communication was not done effectively.

“These numbers show there must be some kind of failure in the system, it’s not any single housing officer who forgot to make a phone call or write a letter.

“People were dropped off the list, people were not allocated housing, people were not informed of rent going up or that they were in arrears on council tax.”

In response, a council spokesperson said the civic centre was “continuing to work hard” to ensure GRT people had access to suitable housing. They said user-friendly communications material was available to make “information easier to understand and to tackle low engagement and dismantle barriers”.

But Nancy said certain cultural differences were “difficult to explain to standard housing services”.

For example, some communal events GRT people celebrate means they may need to “miss an interview”. GRT people may also have trouble reading and writing and only around 50% of them have access to the internet, as it’s not “part of the way they get their information,” Nancy explained.

Therefore, information from the council, particularly sent via email or a notification on a website, might not reach them.

Nancy said: “If you have a policy that generally works for the majority, but it puts a specific minority at a disadvantage by virtue of being that minority, then that is indirect discrimination, and that’s what we think is happening in Enfield.

“There’s a simple thing you can put in place; instead of sending an email you can send a letter, then families give it to someone who can read it to them.”

Explaining GRT people’s various housing needs, Nancy said homelessness among some communities was linked to there not being enough pitches for caravans and trailers.

She said: “A lot of Gypsy and Traveller people are nomadic but, due to pitch shortages, there’s few spaces to park caravans, so there’s a risk of trespassing and having your caravan impounded. People then have to present as homeless.”

However, the situation was different for Roma people, Nancy explained. “Roma people experienced forced settlements in central Europe which meant a lot lost their nomadic culture, and they stopped living on the road, so for Roma people now, bricks and mortar would be acceptable housing.”

Nancy did say Enfield was making progress delivering Gypsy and Traveller sites and was only “one of about three” London boroughs which had plans in place to build them.

A civic centre spokesperson said: “The council has strong engagement with the community, to educate, spread knowledge and share in their cultural heritage. Regular engagement with the GRT community is carried out through forums, dedicated liaison officers, and partnerships with advocacy groups to ensure that their voices are heard in many areas, including housing, policy decisions, and issues in question.

“Enfield, like many other London boroughs, is facing a severe housing crisis driven by high demand, reduced central government funding over more than a decade, and rising costs of private rental accommodation. We have already tackled many cases relating to homelessness and those who have been affected by the recent rental change.

“The council is committed to tackling inequality, supporting an inclusive workplace and communities, and creating equal opportunities for everyone in Enfield.”

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