Between April and October 2025, our Brick-by-Brick Advisory Group journeyed through three powerful stages — Respond, Reimagine, and Resolve — to confront racial injustice in housing and reimagine what justice could look like when communities most affected lead the way.
Why we gathered
The UK housing system continues to fail Black and Global Majority communities. We see discrimination in every corner — from landlords judging tenants by accent or surname, to data and research that erase our realities.
Brick by Brick begins where the cracks in the system are most visible. By listening to those who live at its sharpest edges, we’re finding solutions that strengthen the whole system — building fairness into the foundation.
Respond — Making the invisible visible
“Imagination is one of the most powerful modes of resistance that oppressed and exploited folks can and do use.” — bell hooks
Our first meeting in April focused on truth-telling. We spoke honestly about the racism embedded in housing — from biased letting practices to leadership that doesn’t reflect the communities it serves.
Members shared how data invisibility makes our struggles harder to solve. We called for research that sees us fully, and systems that don’t just count numbers but centre people. Respond became an act of collective revival: naming harm, refusing erasure, and daring to imagine something better.
Reimagine — Story as evidence
“The single story creates stereotypes… They make one story become the only story.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
By July, our focus turned from reflection to creativity. We explored storytelling as data — recognising that lived experience isn’t an add-on but essential evidence for change.
We talked about ethics and consent in storytelling, and how to protect against exploitation. Members reimagined what housing could look like if policy was shaped by people’s stories — not just statistics. Housing not as property, but as belonging.
Resolve — Turning insight into action
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
By October, the group moved from reflection to resolve. We discussed how to rebuild power and accountability from the ground up — through community ownership, tenant-led monitoring, and stronger legal protections.
We also engaged directly in national advocacy — influencing debates in Parliament on the Renters’ Rights Bill and pressing for stronger anti-discrimination measures. While our proposed amendments were deemed out of scope, we’re not deterred. We’ll continue monitoring how the Bill is implemented and pushing for accountability where it falls short.
There can be no housing justice if racial justice isn’t on the agenda.
Even amid rising nationalism and division, the group refused to lose hope. We looked back to the Black-led housing movements of the 1980s — reminders that communities have always built what the system would not.
What we learned
- Respond: Make the invisible visible. Reframe housing as a human right.
- Reimagine: Storytelling is evidence. Imagination drives reform.
- Resolve: Accountability isn’t optional. Power must shift to those most affected.
What’s next
Our next phase will deepen and expand this work — growing Brick by Brick’s reach regionally to include the West Midlands, and strengthening alliances with community partners and practitioners who share our vision of systemic change.
We’ll continue using storytelling, research, and advocacy to reshape the housing system from within — ensuring that those closest to the problem remain central to the solution.
When the system works for those most harmed by it, it works better for everyone.
We invite you to follow our journey, share your story, and help strengthen the foundations of justice — brick by brick.
Written by Michaela Queensborough
ROTA Housing Lead