We are calling for housing providers to show their commitment to equality in housing by signing up to show their support to the CIH EDI pledge.
As well as everyone deserving a safe, affordable place to call home they also deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in accessing and receiving housing services.
In the sector we have a responsibility to tenants, employees and customers that goes beyond bricks and mortar. A need to shape communities, support vulnerable residents, and play a vital role in people's lives during their most challenging moments. To do this well, we must reflect the communities we work with.
The pledge unites housing providers and partners committed to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion across everything they do. As no one size fits all its ensuring services are accessible to all, creating inclusive environments, and tackling inequality. We recognise that progress requires sustained action. This pledge is not about assessing each organisation on their actions, but instead to show their commitment towards making the sector a fairer place.
The pledge
The CIH EDI pledge is about showing a committment. Our guidance and themes have been designed for housing providers to improve business performance through EDI. Working to promote social cohesion, improving access to resources, and better reflecting the needs of your tenants and communities come together to deliver better housing outcomes for everyone.
By signing the pledge housing organisations can demonstrate they are working towards this through four specific areas. Whilst the actions themselves will differ by organisations, making the pledge commits an organisation to working towards equality:
- Diversify: Take action to increase diversity in the workplace, including on boards and committees.
- Upskill: Ensure that professional development for staff is person specific, reflects individual skills and talents and includes a focus on EDI and marginalised groups.
- Engage: Commit to regular engagement with schools, colleges and other relevant groups and organisations about the value and impact of diversity in the workplace.
- Champion: Appoint an officer at a senior level to champion and sponsor an EDI workstream.
Rohini Sharma Joshi | EDI board chair
Equality in housing isn't a burden, it's an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to fairer practices while strengthening our organisations, communities and improving how we do business.
One size doesn't fit all
As we know there's not a singular correct way to do things for a fairer sector, we've provided a starting point of ideas in our pledge toolkit. Alongside this, each quarter we'll focus on a new topic with extra resources and campaign materials, which we'll add here as they are produced.
If you have an idea or would like to suggest a story, resources or are doing something great, please contact us by emailing marketing.communications@cih.org.
What next?
Our EDI board and colleague-led EDI group will be sharing ongoing resources and updates throughout the year on various initiatives, good practice and articles to keep ideas and activity moving as we know one-size doesn't fit all.
Make sure you are following us on LinkedIn, are a CIH member receiving our email newsletters, and keep checking back on this page for all the latest updates.
