Changing Times: The Future of Race Equality in Housing Conference
22 October 2008: London
Race Equality Foundation: Tel. No: 020 7619 6225
It is an interesting time for race equality in housing. Later this year, the Government plans to publish a Housing Reform Green Paper, in which economic independence, social mobility, housing aspirations and greater fairness are expressed themes.
The Community Empowerment White Paper aims to strengthen user voices and control in services, and groups such as homeless people are receiving greater attention than before.
There is continuing evidence that black and minority ethnic communities still experience greater overall disadvantage when compared to majority communities, so these changes are welcome.
The Housing Corporation is soon to combine some of its functions with English Partnerships to become the Homes and Communities Agency, with a vision to - 'create opportunity....for people to live in homes they can afford, in places they want to live....for local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas' (Homes and Communities Agency Set up Team, 2008). There is an opportunity for this new agency to set equalities standards, and 'mainstream' race equality.
In addition, the new Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is expected to start its work in 2009 with a remit to regulate registered social landlords and private sector providers of social housing. Its work is expected to be extended to cover council housing within two years. The creation of the TSA represents an opportunity for black and minority ethnic tenants to have many of their housing concerns addressed.
The conference will discuss how to promote and progress race equality in housing services and what the reconvened agencies, and all housing providers can contribute to this agenda.
The conference will:
Conference delegates will hear from service users about the changes they would like to see in social housing provision. Delegates will be able to reflect on current race equality achievements in social housing and consider a range of practice-based initiatives that are bringing about change.
Iain Wright MP, Junior Minister for Housing will address the conference during the day.
The conference will feature a panel of service users including Angela Smith, a London tenant, Bridget Maloney from the Irish Traveller Movement of Great Britain, and Sandra Brown and Margaret Sesay from Odu-Dua Housing Association.
There will be keynote presentations by Atul Patel, Group Chief Executive of LHA/ASRA; Heather Petch, Chief Executive of the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (hact), and Selvin Brown from Communities and Local Government. In addition, Devan Kanthasamy from HACT and Judine Alleyne from the Housing Inspectorate at the Audit Commission will deliver interactive presentations to all delegates.
In the afternoon, there will be a choice of four workshops:
Delegates will receive a copy of the latest Better Housing Briefing Paper, written by an expert in the field. They will also receive a full set of the other Better Housing briefing papers. The papers include discussion of key evidence, practice guidance and identify further resources and information.
The conference will start at 9.30am with registration and will end by 4.30pm.
To feature a forthcoming conference, please contact us at ms@uk-housing.co.uk.