Engaging Ethnically Diverse Communities

Engagement with ethnically diverse communities and tenants is crucial to understanding their housing experiences and needs. All too often, ethnically diverse communities are considered ‘hard-to-reach’. This page provides advice on how to overcome perceived engagement barriers.

 

How does this link to Anti-racist Wales Action Plan?

ARWAP asks housing providers to:

  • Improve communication and engagement with ethnic minority people
  • Demonstrate how they will ensure that anti-racism and race equality are embedded within their services. This includes housing needs and conditions.
  • Housing associations need to comply with regulatory standards: RS1 c) evidence based commitments including anti-racism & RS3 b) deliver services which meet diverse needs
  • Use new LHMA process and guidance focused on better understanding housing needs of ethnic minority people.

What you need to know

  • There are no ‘hard-to-reach’ communities. The term implies blame on communities themselves rather than questioning lack of accessibility. Read more about it here.
  • Local authorities and other public authorities in Wales have a legal duty to engage with diverse people. See guidance from ERHC. 

What you can do 

Engaging with ethnically diverse communities requires thoughtful consideration and cultural sensitivity. Here are some important considerations:

Learn More

  • Communicating Housing Information to Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  • You can find plenty of resources on how to better engage with all diverse communities here
  • Tai Pawb and Public Health Wales produced a Roadmap for Inclusive Co-production based on a project co-produced with refugees with plenty of tips for inclusive engagement. Check it out. 
  • Should you include race in alt text? Watch this discussion about race when describing people in alt text: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCcsp7BUsCk

Tenant App in CCHA

 

Vaccine Pop-ups at CCHA

 

 

Supporting Community Groups CCHA

 

Supporting ethnic minority community groups – Wales and West Housing

In 2023, Wales and West Housing pledged financial support for two charities advocating for and providing support to ethnic minority communities.

EYST (Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team) Wales and BMHS (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Support) will each receive £10,000 per year for three consecutive years.

Read more here

 

We are looking for case studies on this topic. Can your organisation share their Engaging ethnically diverse communities example? Contact simon@taipawb.org

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