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CIH and equality and diversity

CIH and equality and diversity. John Thornhill CIH E: john.thornhill@cih.org T: JohnAThornhill. 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….

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CIH and equality and diversity

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  1. CIH and equality and diversity John Thornhill CIH E: john.thornhill@cih.org T: JohnAThornhill

  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…

  3. Part 1: CIH: where have we been

  4. 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

  5. Equality and diversity charter • Equality and diversity is driven from the top • Equality and diversity informs our business planning • Equality and diversity shapes our organisational culture • Equality and diversity is supported through staff training, development and engagement • We know who our customers are • We involve our customers in shaping and scrutinizing services • We represent the communities which we serve • We support the communities which we serve

  6. 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)

  7. 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.

  8. Part 2: Equality and diversity and housing

  9. Equality – a tale of two issues Inside - out Outside - in Social context political direction, economy; and welfare reform Housing organisations as businesses and service providers

  10. Trends in public spending (c/o FullFact)

  11. Public Spending Plans

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Part 3: Politics and people

  16. 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: “21stCentury inequality threatens to be a division between the richest at the top.. And those struggling to keep up”

  17. 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

  18. Judging the public mood…

  19. 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)

  20. Judging the public mood (BSAS)

  21. The BIG challenges • Expect more conditionality- what impact for groups? • Challenging language that undermines equality • Challenging policies that enhance segregation/exclusion • Increasing levels of poverty and reduced standards of living • Questions about the Human Rights Act and UKs role in Europe • Building public trust and ensuring openness and transparency • Ensuring diversity at top of organisations

  22. Part 4: Businesses rethink equality

  23. Economy, legislation and regulation aside….diversity is more complex than 9 protected characteristics Values and beliefs Culture, ideological beliefs, ethics Social Age, sex, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical abilities Knowledge and skills Education, experience, abilities, information Consumer Consumption preferences and choice, and constraints Personality Affective disposition, motivational factors Business Insight driven services Representative, best and happy workforce, Business edge Employment Work function Work ties Income worklessness Community place Community ties, Friendship ties

  24. 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

  25. Part 4: CIH where next?

  26. 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

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