The glue to aid cohesion

One million Council homes in England have transferred to housing associations since the late 1980s. Yet scarcely any have gone to black and minority ethnic associations. Why not?

After all, BME associations have become increasingly important in social housing over the last 20 years. For BME people who have suffered discrimination and lack of understanding of their needs, creating their own housing organisations has gone alongside the development of BME community organisations in general.

For the Housing Corporation, BME associations have been recognised as offering something different and relevant to help address the needs of the whole community. For central government, well run BME associations that engage effectively at grassroots level are uniquely suited to address the community cohesion agenda.

Some BME associations have grown significantly. Three are now substantial medium sized organisations. Others are knocking at the 1000 units door. But as a whole, growth has been too little - too slow. The ability of the BMEs to make a real difference to their communities and to wider social policy objectives has been limited.

Growth has been fuelled by development funding and transfers from mainstream associations. But the one factor that could have made a real difference - stock transfer from local authorities - has been almost totally lacking.

So to return to the question: why is this? The simple answer is that it hasn't been a priority for the transferring authorities. It's easier to transfer to a single new organisation. The housing needs of BME communities are often not known, and play little part in housing strategies. The achievements and capacity of local BME housing associations may not be appreciated.

This was a major missed opportunity. BME associations can contribute a great deal to stock transfer: facilitating access to 'hidden' communities, promoting community cohesion, helping local authorities deliver strategic transfer objectives, providing homes and services to people in greatest need.

Support has come from the Corporation, from some enlightened local authorities and mainstream associations, but as a whole the housing sector's support has been patchy and limited. It is time to do the right thing and make a real difference to BME communities and housing associations.

All local authorities and Regional Housing Boards should be obliged to adopt and implement BME Housing Strategies. Next, BME associations should be involved in all strategic housing decision making, including the nature of the stock transfer vehicle for major transfers and estate regenerations.

For proposed stock transfers in areas with a significant BME population - say one-third or more - suitable BME associations should be given first opportunity to win over the tenants.

BME associations need to work in partnership - with each other and with mainstream associations - to maximise their effectiveness and their special skills and knowledge. Transfer organisations and ALMOs should demonstrate their equality and diversity commitment, and should develop partnership working with BME associations.

And while many BME associations are plainly capable of handling stock transfer in principle, the scale and number of potential demands for involvement mean that financial support should be available to assist them to extend their operations.

Greg Campbell is a director of Campbell Tickell.