Housing Diversity Network : Resources : Race

Statistics - race
Legislation - race
Housing - Regulation, Codes of Practice, Guidance & Policy - race
Housing Sector Studies - race
Service Delivery - Race
Tackling Racism & Harassment
Employment & Staffing - Race
Procurement, Contractors, Consultants & Suppliers
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
New European Migration
Gypsies and Travellers
Race Equality Foundation - Briefing Papers

Statistics - race

Born Abroad - BBC

Interactive maps, tables and figures provice a comprehensive picture of Britain's new immigrant communities. Information from the Census and the Labour Force Survey has been used to provide detailed analysis of Britain's new immigrant communities - defined as those who have arrived since 1990 - from over 50 countries and regions.

Legislation - race

EC Article 13 Race Directive This Directive establishes, for the first time, a minimum standard of legal protection from racial discrimination across Europe. EC Directives are European Community laws that Member States must comply with although it is up to individual Member States to choose the form and methods they use to implement them.

Race Relations Act 1976 The Race Relations Act 1976 provides protection from race discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing, and the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 The Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 implement the EC Article 13 Race Directive. The Regulations enhance the Race Relations Act by, for example, amending the definition of indirect discrimination and changing the way in which the burden of proof applies, as well as removing a number of exceptions from the legislation.

The Housing Act 2004: Gypsies and Travellers Section 225 of the Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to include Gypsies and Travellers in the Accommodation Needs Assessment process and to have a strategy in place which sets out how any identified need will be met as part of their wider housing strategies.

Housing - Regulation, Codes of Practice, Guidance & Policy - race

Statutory Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Employment The CRE's new statutory code of practice on racial equality in employment took legal effect in England, Scotland and Wales on 6 April 2006. The new code replaced the CRE's original code of practice (the Code of Practice For The Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity) published in 1984. It is a set of recommendations and guidance on how to avoid unlawful racial discrimination and harassment in employment. It outlines employers' legal obligations under the Race Relations Act 1976 and contains general advice on the policies they will need to safeguard against discrimination and harassment, as well as more detailed recommendations on the procedures and practice that will help ensure fair and equal treatment for everyone.

Housing Sector Studies - race

Empowering Individuals & Creating Communities – Thai Perspectives on Life in Britain This is one of the Runnymede Trust’s series of ‘Community Studies’, which aim to promote understanding of the diversity within and between different ethnic groups. This study looks at the Thai population in Britain.

The Housing and Neighbourhood Impact of Britain's changing ethnic mix - JRF, Oct 2008 This paper written by John Perry from the Chartered Institute of Housing, considers what recent research tells us about the nature of patterns of immigration, and how they have impacted on policy and practice in housing and neighbourhood renewal. Key points from the paper include:

Whilst recent migration presents new policy and practice challenges, the nature of long-term communities is also changing. Some are experiencing new types of discrimination, whilst others fulfil aspirations that are similar to those of equivalent white communities;

Housing is critical to the welfare and integration of new migrants. Most migrants live in the private rented sector, with many enduring poor or insecure accommodation. Policy has not responded to this, and has shifted away from a ‘neighbourhood’ focus in community cohesion;

Asylum seekers/refugees and many Muslim communities feel discriminated against, and change in policy and language at central government is needed to address this;

Policy on funding minority groups should recognise the need for services targeted at new migrants and for work targeted at isolated groups within longer-established communities.

Service Delivery - Race

Bridging the gaps – social exclusion of BME elders - HACT, Jan 2008 This report from the Housing Association's Charitable Trust makes a series of recommendations to help social housing providers make progress on communicating with and understanding the basic requirements of BME elders.

The drivers of Black and Asian people’s perceptions of racial discrimination by public services: a quality study - DCLG, Jan 2008 This report presents findings from research commissioned in order to understand the drivers of Black and Asian people’s perceptions of racial discrimination in eight key public services: council housing departments and housing associations, local schools, local doctors’ surgeries, the police service, the prison service, the courts, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the probation service. The report also makes a number of recommendations with regards to front-line service delivery and communications.

Tackling Racism & Harassment

Code of Practice on Reporting & Recording Racist Incidents The aim of this code is to provide guidelines for local agencies to establish effective procedures for the reporting and recording of racist incidents. It applies to all statutory, voluntary and community groups involved in the multi-agency reporting and recording of racist incidents. The code should be the starting point for any housing provider setting up or reviewing their recording systems, particularly where there is involvement with a local multi-agency initiative. Published by the Home Office in May 2000 in response to recommendation 15 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.

Tackling Racial Harassment : Code of Practice for Social Landlords This Code of Practice sets out action that all social landlords should take to prevent racial harassment, to ensure that racist incidents are reported, to support tenants and their families when such harassment does occur and to take action against perpetrators to enforce the landlord's civil powers and deter further harassment. Published 2001 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Code of Practice has been endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Local Government Association and the National Housing Federation.

Tackling the roots of racism: lessons for success - JRF Nov 2005 This summary report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looks at the success policy measures have had in addressing the causes of racism and the lessons we can learn from countries outside Britain, asking ‘what really works’. Drawing on literature from a wide range of disciplines, the report makes direct links between the causes of racism and the successful interventions to combat it.

Employment & Staffing - Race

Talk on Trial: Job Interviews, Language and Ethnicity - Department for Work and Pensions, July 2008 This research from the Department for Work and Pensions reveals that there are persistent but indirect and intangible barriers to ethnic minority groups progressing into management positions. The research was based on data from interviews, discussions, and recorded job interviews to explore how the interviewing process and organisational culture promoted or suppressed ethnic minority progression.

Procurement, Contractors, Consultants & Suppliers

Public Procurement & Race Equality Public authorities have a legal duty to promote race equality in carrying out all their functions. This has implications for their approach to procurement – affecting the way in which they specify their requirements, select the best bid and manage contracts. The EHRC have holds important guidance for private and voluntary sector organisations that do business with the public sector. They indicate how race equality can be relevant to public procurement and offer advice on how external providers can respond – in complying with legislation, demonstrating their competence and working with authorities to assess how best to achieve their objectives.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Helping housing associations help refugees and new migrants - Chartered Institute of Housing, August 2007 HACT and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) have published resources to enable housing associations to meet the housing and support needs of refugees and new migrants. The resources include a series of ten training modules with information on legal issues, partnership working, integration and new migrants. The modules include facts about the housing rights of new migrants and refugees, and recommendations about the importance of incorporating their needs into housing strategies. There is also a four-part literature review of recent studies and reports about national and local programmes and projects working with new migrants. Housing and support services for asylum seekers and refugees: a good practice guide This guide from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation will help housing professionals face the challenge of meeting the housing and related needs of asylum seekers and refugees. The guide aims to show how safe and secure housing can be provided, and how it can be the crucial link in helping people establish themselves in communities where they want to live and where other people accept them. Good housing services can be the basis for the wide support which new migrants are likely to need and housing professionals are well-placed to establish partnerships with other organisations which can provide it.

New European Migration

‘Economic Migration to Housing Market Renewal Areas in North West England – Opportunity or Threat? - Merseyside Social Inclusion Observatory, 2007 This research considers the impact of economic migrants from Central and Eastern Europe on local housing and employment markets, access to services and community cohesion in two Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder areas in the North West of England. The report aims to provide policy-relevant recommendations in respect of the NewHeartlands and Oldham and Rochdale Pathfinder areas many of which will also be more widely applicable throughout the North West region and nationally.

Floodgates or turnstiles? Post-EU enlargement migration flows to (and from) the UK - Institute for Public Policy Research, April 2008 This study aims to provide as definitive a picture of post-enlargement migration flows to and from the UK as possible. The report presents fresh evidence on the scale and nature of migration from the eight new Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 and, to a lesser extent, from Romania and Bulgaria, which joined in 2007. The research finds that the patterns of post-enlargement migration are very different from those of significant waves of migration to Britain in the past. In contrast to previous migrants, it is financially and logistically possible for migrants from the new EU member states to come to the UK on a temporary or seasonal basis, and to regularly visit home while living in Britain. This has implications for health, employment and housing considerations.

The Impact of Migration from the New European Union Member States on Native Workers - DWP, June 2008 This paper looks at the impact of migration from the new Eastern European EU member states on the labour market experiences of the native UK workforce.

Gypsies and Travellers

Gypsies and Travellers Factsheet - EHRC This online fact sheet produced by the CRE addresses some commonly held misconceptions about gypsies and travellers in Britain. It also includes statistics on housing, employment, tax contributions and health.

Gypsies and Travellers Factsheet - ODPM This factsheet summarises the measures related to Gypsies and Travellers contained within Part 6 of the Housing Act 2004. Updated Jan 2007.

Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments – draft practice guidance Draft guidance published by the ODPM Feb 2006 on carrying out gypsy and traveller accommodation assessments. These are a requirement within Part 6 of the Housing Act 2004.

Housing Research Summary No. 195: Local Authority Gypsy/ Traveller Sites in England This research, published by the ODPM in 2003, contains a large amount of information about Gypsy & Traveller sites, how they are managed and about future needs.

Local Authorities and Gypsies and Travellers: Guide to responsibilities and powers This guide, published by the ODPM in Feb 2006, aims to provide policies to help ensure that gypsies and travellers and the settled community live together peacefully.

The Forgotten Minority: Gypsies and Travellers - Rooftop Housing Group, Feb 2008 A report by the Worcestershire Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Group incorporating 12 organisations including councils, the Diocese of Worcester, the Police, as well as housing and community organisations. The report puts forward a Manifesto of Change to tackle the issues faced by Gypsies and Travellers promoting greater housing choice, proposing an increase in transit pitches, helping young people in the various communities to realise their full potential and tackling racism and xenophobia.

Race Equality Foundation - Briefing Papers

Better Housing briefing papers.The work programme for the Race Equality Foundation helps improve health and housing services for black and minority ethnic communities. They do this by gathering and disseminating evidence of what works in promoting race equality. Central to the programme is their set of Better Health and Better Housing briefing papers. These are accessible practice-focused documents that bring together the latest research and other evidence. They outline the practice implications and provide examples of what can work.