Black and minority-ethnic social landlords should be allowed more freedom to work with the community, a group of BME association chiefs are to tell the housing minister.
The chief executives, including Ronnie Moodley of London-based BME housing association Arhag, have secured a meeting with Keith Hill and drawn up a list of demands.

The meeting was scheduled for 4 February but has now been moved to a later date.

The group will call for an annual conference to be attended by government, BME associations and other public service representatives.

They will also ask Hill to update the government's BME strategy and allow associations to diversify into non-housing community activities.

Moodley said: "We will talk about the added-value activities that BME associations can bring to their communities and about why there has to be flexibility."

Meanwhile, the Audit Commission has issued a report on BME communities, which says social landlords must try harder to stop discrimination.

It cites Chesterfield Borough Council as an example of good practice – it conducted research to develop a housing strategy for its BME residents.

Source

Housing Today