Download - CIH and equality and diversity

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CIH and equality and diversity

John Thornhill CIHE: [email protected] T: JohnAThornhill

mailto:[email protected]

Learn with us. Improve with us. Influence with us | www.cih.org 2

What will we look at today

• CIH reviewing approach to equality and diversity

• Equality and diversity in housing

• Framing the conversation in the run-up to the election

• What you can do…


Part 1: CIH: where have we been


2010-2014: SES and Charter • CIH published first Single Equality Scheme in 2004, revised in 2010

www.cih.org/Equalityanddiversity• In 2010, CIH won the Two Ticks http://www.cih.org/Thedisabilitysymbol

which means we are positive about employing disabled people.• In 2009, CIH joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme for LGBT

equality in the workplace http://www.stonewall.org.uk/• In 2012 we started our equality and diversity charter campaign with 2 clear

objectives to support the sector to: get the basics right on areas of core service delivery implement the major changes that are coming on board following

recent policy initiatives• CIH charter is a flexible framework that helps to identify what outcomes a

good quality service can deliver• Now had over 100 organisations signing up to the charter with associated

online practice sharing network

http://www.cih.org/Equalityanddiversity

http://www.cih.org/Thedisabilitysymbol

http://www.stonewall.org.uk/


Equality and diversity charter1. Equality and diversity is driven from the top 2. Equality and diversity informs our business

planning3. Equality and diversity shapes our organisational

culture4. Equality and diversity is supported through staff

training, development and engagement5. We know who our customers are6. We involve our customers in shaping and

scrutinizing services7. We represent the communities which we serve8. We support the communities which we serve


Our ‘How to’ briefings Basis of our ‘How to’ briefings on equality themes

• Tackle child poverty 2014• Make effective use of adapted property 2013• Mainstream equality and reflect diversity 2013• Use diversity network groups to improve services 2013• Undertake an equality analysis 2013• Tackle disability related harassment 2012 (to be updated for 2014)


As a professional body • Age: 87.3% of our members have declared their age. Of this figure, 4.2% are under 25,

17.3% are 25-34, 25% are 35-44, 33.6% are 45-54, 16% are 55-64 and 3.2% are over 65. • Disability: 69.5% of our members responded our question about their disability status.

Of this number, 4% have declared they have a disability. • Ethnicity: 87% of our members have declared their ethnicity. Of this number, 14% are

from a black and minority ethnic background.• Gender: 100% of our members have declared their gender. 59% of our members are

women. • Religion or belief: 39.9% of our members have declared their religion or belief. Of this

number 31.8% have declared they have no religion, 5.3% would prefer not to say and 62.9% have declared a religious belief, of which the largest number is 56.1% who have declared Christianity as their religion.

• Sexual orientation: 42% of our members have declared their sexual orientation, of which 3% have declared they are lesbian, gay or bisexual and 4% have said they prefer not to say.

• Gender identity: 35% of our members have declared their gender identity, of which 2% have declared they would prefer not to say and 0.4% have declared they are transgender.


Part 2: Equality and diversity and housing


Equality – a tale of two issues

Social context political

direction, economy; and welfare reform

Housing organisations as businesses and

service providers

Outside - in Inside - out


Trends in public spending (c/o FullFact)


Public Spending Plans


Equality impacts of welfare reform • Lone parents, disabled people and people from ethnic minority groups are

significantly less likely to be in a paid job than others, so impacts will be hardest• Lone parents (in the UK) have an employment rate of 59% • Employment rate of working age disabled people is 47.8%• Race Equality Foundation claims that child poverty rates for black and minority

ethnic families in the UK are higher than the national average and the housing benefit capping and cuts will adversely affect this. Disproportionately hit by welfare reform

• Papworth Trust and NHF 9/10 disabled people are cutting back on food or bills, 4/10 are cutting back on specialist mobility transport, 1/4 are cutting back on medical expenses such as medication, therapies and monitoring health conditions, because of bedroom tax, 1/3 refused DHPs

• Changes to the way disability benefits are paid have also raised concerns among some disability organisations. For example, National AIDS Trust have identified that the impact of HIV on an individual’s ability to work can be fluctuating and varied


Equality impacts?• DWP denied specific equality

impacts of welfare reform• But some under-represented

groups tend to be more affected by welfare reform and fall-out from economic down-turn

• As welfare reform and the fall-out from the down-turn isn’t targeted specifically at them specifically

• So welfare reform and fall-out from economic down-turn do not affect all individuals in these groups equally


Beyond welfare reform • Immigration and the PRS: The vast majority of recent migrants use the PRS

on arrival and often occupy poorer quality housing• Immigration checks and PRS: If a prospective tenant is not obviously British

landlords may simply reject them• Housing Benefit (Habitual Residence) Amendment Regulations 2014:

Removed access to Housing Benefit for European Economic Area (EEA) jobseekers who are entitled to income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Allocations: LAs introducing up to 10 year residency status tests for allocations (B&D and Hillingdon) E&D impacts (but legal)?

• Out-of-area discharging: The Localism Act 2011 enables LAs to end the main homelessness duty by arranging an offer of suitable accommodation in the PRS: concerns about support and networks

• Young people: Crisis reported young single people being able to access just 1.5 per cent of the properties on PRS market due to the SAR. Government has intimated it may consider cutting HB/LHA to under 25’s after the 2015 General Election


Part 3: Politics and people


Equality and the political landscape

David Cameron: “Fairness means giving people what they deserve and what they deserve depends on how they behave”

Nick Clegg: “Fairness means everyone having the chance to do well, irrespective of their beginnings- fairness means social mobility”

Ed Miliband: “21st Century inequality threatens to be a division between the richest at the top.. And those struggling to keep up”


Coalition’s ambiguous stance on equality • The Coalition government has supported

the Equality Act 2010, it has stressed that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to equality and that ‘business know best

• Controversially announced their intention to ‘simplify’ the Equality Act and remove what they term ‘unnecessary’ obligations on business. Notorious ‘Red Tape Challenge’ website

• HCA’s co-regulatory approach to consumer protection. Increasingly this means landlords need to develop tenant focused services where tenants themselves are involved in their diversity in determining and scrutinising service delivery

http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmresour.nsf/lookup/CoregulationBriefing.pdf/$File/CoregulationBriefing.pdf

http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmresour.nsf/lookup/CoregulationBriefing.pdf/$File/CoregulationBriefing.pdf


Judging the public mood…


Judging the public mood

Role of the State (BSAS)

% who think it’s government’s responsibility to provide decent standard of living for the unemployed.

Public support for extra spending on benefits has increased (BSAS)


Judging the public mood (BSAS)


The BIG challenges 1. Expect more conditionality- what impact for

groups?2. Challenging language that undermines

equality 3. Challenging policies that enhance

segregation/exclusion 4. Increasing levels of poverty and reduced

standards of living 5. Questions about the Human Rights Act and

UKs role in Europe6. Building public trust and ensuring openness

and transparency 7. Ensuring diversity at top of organisations


Part 4: Businesses rethink equality


Economy, legislation and regulation aside….diversity is more complex than 9 protected characteristics

SocialAge, sex, race,

ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual

orientation, physical abilities

Knowledge and skills

Education, experience,

abilities, information

Values and beliefsCulture,

ideological beliefs,ethics

PersonalityAffective

disposition, motivational

factors

Community place

Community ties,Friendship ties

Employment Work function

Work tiesIncome

worklessness

ConsumerConsumption

preferences and choice, and constraints

BusinessInsight driven

servicesRepresentative, best and happy

workforce,Business edge


Mainstreaming equality

Incorporating equal opportunities and an awareness of diverse service provision into all actions, services and policies from the strategy and planning stage right through to delivery and review Equality and diversity are an integral part of service delivery rather than something separated off or seen as an adjunct to doing the business


Part 4: CIH where next?


What would a housing system that works for everyone look like?

Find out and have your say: www.cih.org/tickingthebox

Join the debate #tickforhousing

Download - CIH and equality and diversity

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