Social landlords must drive community relations if racial tensions are to be avoided in the wake of the outbreak of war in Iraq, a senior government adviser has warned.
The Right Reverend David Walker, Bishop of Dudley and a member of the government policy action team on housing management, spoke out on Wednesday. He argued that landlords have a vital role to play because they are best placed to know community leaders.

Housing associations and local authorities should be liaising with each other, with tenants' and residents' groups, local race-relations organisations and voluntary sector bodies so that they are alert to any undercurrents of unrest in their areas.

"The subject is prevention. We don't know what effects this will have once people start seeing the casualties on their television.

"Most of what is taking place in Dudley and Worcestershire is being done on an ad hoc basis but it brings together local partnerships. Everybody needs to come together very quickly and prevent a flashpoint turning into a more serious problem."

In addition people need to be tolerant and aware of each other's circumstances – while there may be increase ethnic tensions, there will also be tenants and social housing employers who will know people that have gone out to serve in the Gulf.

Some housing providers are already alert to the impact that the conflict will have on local communities with housing professionals warning colleagues to watch out for signals of unrest such as racist graffiti or an increase in verbal abuse (HT 21 February, page 16).

Source

Housing Today