Let's just get on with the job

Re: "Tough questions must be asked" and "The CIH cannot represent us" (28 May, pages 5 and 22). The Chartered Institute of Housing report, The Future of Black and Minority-Ethnic Housing Associations, confronts some difficult realities and it is right to do so.

Yet, rather than providing a stepping stone to a more cohesive and open debate, early reaction to the research suggests the possibility of continuing polarisation.

The report is not an end in itself and other contributions to the Housing Corporation's review are scheduled, including a submission from the London BME Directors' Group.

The research raises the question of whether the "BME" tag is still valid. Yet why should we feel the need to pigeonhole social landlords? Each has its own specific role and benefits to offer particular communities.

The "sector" has always been diverse and this variety is expanding.

Instead of seeking to construct a new image, self-define precise roles and ask questions about how BME and mainstream associations should relate to each other, all social landlords must explore ways to meet the needs of different ethnic groups and new immigrants.

This requires genuine partnership between the Housing Corporation, the ODPM, the CIH and housing associations themselves. The question is: can we forget the hyperbole around the need to rebrand and actually get on with the job?