Housing Corporation News Release

11 December 2007         Ref: 116/07   

New guidance to assist housing associations to eliminate discrimination

How housing associations work towards the elimination of discrimination whilst promoting the continuous improvement on equality and diversity is set out in a good practice note  published by the Housing Corporation.

The  Equality and  Diversity Good Practice Note (GPN) outlines the what equalities and diversity policies should include to ensure the needs of different groups and individuals are met.

The note:

• outlines the statutory obligations of the Corporation and the implications for housing associations;
• refers to legislations from which the obligations arise;
• sets out how  housing associations will benefit from adopting an equality and diversity policy;
• highlights some of the issues which need to be considered when developing a policy approach to equality and diversity.

The Good Practice Note consolidates and replaces the Corporation's previous GPN 4: Race Equality and Diversity (2002) and GPN 8: Equality and Diversity (2004).

Copies are available from the Corporation's website www.housingcorp.gov.uk

Ends.

For further Press information please call Sandra White on 0207 393 2094

Notes to editor:

1)The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.

2) The Housing Corporation is also responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England. 

3) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Office for Tenants and Social Landlords.