CIH response to Shelter's research report My colour speaks before me

Shelter have published a new research report - My colour speaks before me - examining how racism and discrimination affect Black and Black Mixed heritage people's access to social homes in England.

CIH chief executive, Gavin Smart, commented on the research report's findings and CIH's commitment to supporting the sector to respond.

“We acknowledge with concern the findings of Shelter’s report “My colour speaks before me”, which provides powerful, peer-led evidence of the racism and discrimination still experienced by Black and Black Mixed heritage people in accessing social homes. This research is reinforced by the findings of Heriot-Watt University’s report “Race, Ethnicity and Homelessness in the UK”, which presents compelling evidence of stark ethnic inequalities in homelessness and housing outcomes, rooted in both structural racism and ongoing discrimination across the system.

"Together, these studies expose the persistence of racial discrimination and wider inequalities that disproportionately affect people based on their race, migration status, disability, gender, and class. The Heriot-Watt research highlights that Black households are nearly four times more likely to face statutory homelessness than White households, while Pakistani and Bangladeshi families are over seven times more likely to live in overcrowded housing. It also finds that people from minoritised communities experience poorer outcomes from statutory homelessness systems, are less likely to be allocated social housing, and frequently face disrespectful, obstructive or even racist treatment from services intended to support them.

"This evidence builds on the conclusions of the Better Social Housing Review (BSHR), commissioned by CIH and NHF, which identified entrenched structural inequality within the housing system. All three pieces of work make clear that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic residents — and Black residents in particular — are more likely to experience homelessness, be placed in poor-quality housing, face longer waits and greater scrutiny when applying for social housing, and encounter barriers when trying to raise concerns or access support.

"These findings are not new — but they are urgent. We must be unequivocal: racism remains a systemic issue. As a sector, we need to confront not only historical injustices but also the current ways in which policies, practices, and professional behaviours continue to produce unequal outcomes. This includes recognising the harm caused by racial profiling, digital exclusion and institutional cultures that too often silence or ignore the voices of residents experiencing injustice.
 
"The BSHR stated that housing providers core purpose — delivering decent, safe, and affordable homes — must be underpinned by a culture rooted in anti-racism, equity, and accountability. The joint CIH–NHF action plan set out a roadmap for change, with commitments to improve the quality of homes and services, amplify resident voice, promote inclusive leadership, and tackle systemic discrimination. But as the Shelter and Heriot-Watt reports both show, change will not happen through plans alone — it requires a meaningful shift in organisational culture, values, and behaviours, co-created with communities and driven by those with lived experience.

"We support the introduction of the new Competence and Conduct Standard in England which will be implemented from October 2026. Backed by mandatory qualifications for senior housing leaders, it will support the continued embedding of fairness, respect, and inclusion across the sector. Professional competence must go hand in hand with ethical conduct, and a strong commitment to racial justice. This includes equipping staff at all levels with the tools and confidence to challenge discrimination and bias — whether overt or hidden — and to rebuild trust with residents who have been marginalised by the system.

"As the professional body for housing, CIH is committed to supporting this transformation. Through our qualifications, professional standards, and code of ethics, we will continue to champion inclusive practice, anti-racist leadership, and the centrality of lived experience in shaping services. We also call on government to play its part in reforming housing policy and addressing the root causes of racial inequality in access to homes.

"There is still much work to do — and it must be done in partnership with those who have been failed by the system for too long. But with renewed purpose, regulatory reform, and genuine collaboration across the sector, we can create a housing system where everyone, regardless of race or background, is treated with dignity, equity, and respect — and where every social home is a safe and secure foundation for a better future.”