Meeting BME housing needs in London

A report on behalf of the G15 group of housing associations

The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and subsequent MacPherson report have put race equality issues centre stage. Organisations from all sectors are being urged to honestly assess how their policies, practices and performance affect communities as a whole, including black and minority ethnic communities.

The G15 is a group of the largest housing associations operating in the London area. We thought that it would be useful both to examine our recent contribution in helping to meet black and minority ethnic housing needs, and to highlight issues of concern.

Given that the G15 RSLs own more than 140,000 dwellings, the majority of which are in London, we believe that the assessment contained in this report is likely to be fairly representative of RSL activity in London more generally.

The picture that emerges is cause neither for complacency nor pessimism. By comparison with other sectors RSLs demonstrate a very high level of participation by black and minority ethnic communities, both in the provision and receipt of the products and services we provide. However, there is much still to be done, and this report sets out some of the areas for possible development.

We hope that this report will promote informed debate about the achievements of RSLs to date, but also how we might contribute further to an ethnically diverse capital city.

The report was written by Catalyst Communities HA on behalf of the G15 RSLs and can be accessed in PDF format below.

Helping to meet BME housing needs in London  

January 2000 (97KB / 16 pages)