About the Race Relations Strategy

We are aware of our changing role in providing quality housing services to an increasingly diverse community. Our Race Relations Policy brings together our key responsibilities and how they promote of equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different ethnic backgrounds in Northern Ireland.

We have based this policy around a broad aim, key objectives and five themes.

Aim

To ensure that all black and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland can get full and fair access to housing services and employment opportunities within the Housing Executive. We aim to support the promotion of good relations between and within ethnic groups and communities.

The objectives

• The prevention of discrimination and the promotion of the right to live peacefully without being harassed on racial grounds

• The mainstreaming of black, minority ethnic and Traveller issues in housing policy and planning

• The integration of race equality into housing services in line with "fairness and equality" as incorporated in the Targeting Social Need and Promoting Social Inclusion initiatives

• The provision of culturally sensitive services which reflect the needs of black and minority ethnic communities, including the Traveller Community

• To ensure compliance with legislation, and the promotion of best practice, in respect of delivering our services to a diverse customer base

• To set the standards of good business practice in areas such as developing partnerships and consultation processes with black, minority ethnic and Traveller community organisations

• To continue developing the Housing Executive’s ethnic monitoring system and to carry out research to inform future policies and practices with regard to housing and community needs

• To promote a diverse workforce, and provide positive action initiatives where appropriate

• To raise the capacity of staff to deal with diversity, through awareness and skills training

• To provide support for new arrivals to Northern Ireland, e.g. migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers

Policy themes

The five Race Relations Policy themes can be summarised as follows;

• Mainstreaming black and minority ethnic issues in policy development

• Racial harassment and intimidation

• Promoting black and minority ethnic social inclusion

• Community participation and development

• Migrant worker issues

These are broad and in some cases cross cutting areas that will in many cases require working in partnership with other public and non-governmental bodies.