14 Housing Organisations Awarded LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
14 housing organisations have been awarded the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer status, which marks a huge milestone for LGBTQ+ housing. This award celebrates each organisation’s dedication to creating safe and welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ residents and sets a benchmark for others in the sector to follow.
The 14 housing organisations recognised:
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Anchor
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Gloucester City Homes
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London Borough of Islington
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Notting Hill Genesis
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Orbit
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Orwell Homes
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Peter Bedford
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Places for People
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QVT
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Riverside
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Royal Borough of Greenwich
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SJMT
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SNG
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Soho Housing
Achieving LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status is a testament to these organisations’ commitment to fostering inclusivity, and addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in social housing. These challenges often include feeling unsafe in their homes or communities and the fear of being “outed” during home visits.
“We are committed to promoting equality and tackling instances of discrimination everywhere in our borough. We would like to thank House Proud and Stonewall Housing for recognising our work here in Greenwich to implement a programme of 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.”
Spokesperson, Royal Borough of Greenwich
“We are delighted to be awarded Pledge Pioneer status. We take pride in knowing that social housing residents assessed our submission alongside Pledge Advisory Board members, and recognised our commitment to the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge. We look forward to continuing our work to make our homes better for LGBTQ+ residents in later life.”
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Sarah Jones, CEO Anchor Hanover
“We’re very proud to have been named an LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer. Everyone deserves a safe, decent and genuinely affordable place to call home and making sure LGBTQ+ residents can access good-quality housing and enjoy their homes with pride, and without discrimination, is a key part of our mission to create a more equal Islington.”
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Councillor Una O’Halloran, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods
“Providing an inclusive Community where everyone is welcome, everyone is important, and everyone can thrive is part of who we are at Places for People. We want our LGBTQ+ Customers to know that we are serious about ensuring the services we provide meet their needs. Signing up the HouseProud Pledge was part of us demonstrating that commitment and we are so delighted to have achieved Pioneer status. We know we can still do better, but by being part of the HouseProud network we are already learning so much and implementing changes for the benefit of our Customers and Communities."
Lindsey Daniels, Director of Transformation
The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge scheme, by HouseProud and delivered by Stonewall Housing, provides a comprehensive framework for social landlords to demonstrate their commitment to creating inclusive and safe environments for LGBTQ+ residents. By adhering to this pledge, organisations show their dedication to eliminating discrimination and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in their communities. To achieve Pledge Pioneer, these organisations have been required to show how they are listening to their LGBTQ+ residents at an executive or strategic level, increasing LGBTQ+ visibility and investing in staff training.A key aspect of the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Scheme is the direct involvement of LGBTQ+ residents in its development.
Notably, LGBTQ+ residents comprised 3 out of the 8 members on the assessment panel, ensuring that their voices and experiences were central to the process. This involvement ensures that the pledge addresses the real and pressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community.“Previous research has shown us that many LGBTQ+ people don’t feel safe even in their own homes or communities.
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These 14 organisations have worked hard to achieve the Pledge Pioneer requirements. It is a massive achievement that sends a clear signal: we all deserve a safe space to call home. These housing providers are helping to make this a reality.”
Alexandra Duffy, Stonewall Housing Training Lead
We urge other housing organisations to join the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Scheme and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive housing sector. By signing up, organisations can help extend this vital initiative and support LGBTQ+ residents across the country.
