Celebrating our LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer status
As this year’s LGBTQ+ History Month draws to an end, Royal Greenwich is proud to champion our commitment to equality and support for LGBTQ+ residents in social housing through our achievement of LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status.
The housing pledge, by HouseProud and delivered by Stonewall Housing, provides a comprehensive framework for social landlords to create inclusive and safe environments for LGBTQ+ residents.
Cllr Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness said: "The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status is a fantastic example of what social housing providers like us can do to promote equality, increase awareness and tackle LGBTQ+ discrimination.
"In Royal Greenwich, we want to make sure that all our residents have access to a safe and secure home, and this also extends to the day-to-day experience of how people feel about where they are living too.
"This achievement is welcome recognition of our pioneering training for staff to improve awareness and interactions with LGBTQ+ residents as well as our work to increase LGBTQ+ visibility and input across the Council.
"I hope that many more social housing providers take the pledge and commit to eliminating discrimination experienced by LGBTQ+ residents so that we can provide housing that is welcoming, safe and inclusive for all."
To achieve Pledge Pioneer status the council had to demonstrate evidence across three key strands:
- Increasing LGBTQ+ visibility in the organisation.
- Offering a programme of training for staff to improve awareness of LGBTQ+ lives and interactions with residents.
- Ensuring that LGBTQ+ residents can have input at executive / strategic level.
The council was able to demonstrate how we are improving LGBTQ+ inclusion by setting up the HouseProud Working Group which is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space to help influence and shape key policies affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition, the council has also set up staff training to improve awareness of LGBTQ+ lives and interactions with residents.
For more information visit www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/houseproud or www.stonewallhousing.org/houseproudpledge