EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

Waterloo Housing Association is committed to providing effective and fair services to a diverse client group from a diverse workforce. The Association aims to provide housing for people in greatest need in order to promote vibrant sustainable communities in all areas in which we work.

We will NOT discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

To reflect our commitment to this vision, we have produced a Diversity Strategy and action plan which sets out our aims and targets in this area.

Some of the practical steps already taken by Waterloo in this area include:

• We produced a Gender Equality Scheme and action plan in March 2008, which sets out our commitment around the area of gender. For more information please contact us.
• We produced a disability equality scheme and action plan in 2007 which sets out our commitments around the area of disability. The scheme was produced in consultation with the Disability Action Group, made up of disabled customers. For more information please contact us.
• We provide diversity and equal opportunities training for board members, staff and members of the Waterloo Residents Association (WRA).
• We have recruitment policies and procedures in place that are designed to give all job applicants an equal chance to demonstrate their skills and abilities, and therefore allow us to choose the best candidate for the job.
• We have fair lettings and sales procedures in place that allow our properties to be accessible to all members of the community. Applicants for housing are requested to indicate their ethnic origin when applying for properties. This information is recorded and used to monitor approved applications.
• We monitor our services to existing customers to ensure we treat people fairly.
• We encourage our contractors and suppliers to adopt our vision by asking them to produce their own diversity statements.
• We have a self-running residents association which has opportunities to participate in the association's decision making process. For further information about the residents association click here.
• We will not tolerate the harassment of residents or staff, and have harassment policies in place for both domestic violence and racial harassment. We also have the necessary procedures and contacts in place to be able to effectively deal with incidents of harassment.

If you have any comments please use the feedback form to get in touch.