New equality code for housing

The draft Race equality code of practice for housing associations would force contractors wanting to work in the sector to adopt initiatives such as Rethinking Construction's Respect for People toolkit.

The draft code is currently out for consultation. If implemented, contractors will have to demonstrate promotion of race equality, with housing associations likely to introduce performance indicators to highlight how firms meet the race equality objectives of the organisation.

The new document is the work of the Race and Housing Inquiry Panel of the National Housing Federation, and builds upon the work of last year's Challenge Report.

The code identifies outcomes that housing associations should work towards and the standards that they should adopt to deliver these outcomes and the vision of the Challenge Report.

The overall objective of the code will be to ensure that people from all ethnic groups have equal access to services, and that ethnic minority groups are equally satisfied with the services on offer from housing associations. Ethnic groups should be fairly represented at all employment levels and contractors working with housing associations should share the business objective of promoting race equality.

Following consultation, it is expected that a final code of practice will be produced for adoption by housing associations in the summer of 2002.

The code is out for consultation until 31 December 2001. Copies can be downloaded from www.housing.org.uk or obtained from Patsy Archibald on 020 7843 2253. Comments should be sent to Leroy Phillips, chair of the Race and Housing Inquiry, care of the National Housing Federation, 175 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8UP.