A focus on flags

BOOST is a long term movement for change to ensure that ethnically diverse people working in housing can boost their potential through mentoring and disruptive change programmes. Last year, the mentees and their allies held a listening session in the wake of the summer hate-driven riots and how unsafe this had made people feel. We have recently heard again that people are feeling unsafe and unwelcome

We absolutely recognise that everyone has wide ranging opinions and respect individual choices. At the same time, from a GMHP BOOST perspective, if we know that behaviours and actions are known to make colleagues, customers or community members feel uncomfortable or unsafe, then it is important to take an active stance, and we ask that people consider our shared statement below.

John Bowker – Chair of BOOST, CEO Southway Housing
Charlie Norman – Chair of GMHP, CEO MSV Housing

 

Each Greater Manchester Housing Provider knows and supports situations when our customers wish to display patriotic flags in or outside their homes during international sporting competitions or national holidays, etc.

Recently, we have seen an increase in social media activity and the flying of flags in response to the migrant crisis. Many of GMHP members’ customers and colleagues have told us that this is making them feel unwelcome, intimidated and in some cases fearful.

We are proud to be anti-racist, multicultural and tolerant organisations. We believe our customers and colleagues should be respected in the places they live and work. We trust our customers and colleagues to be responsible and respectful at all times.

If conduct falls short of our expectations and is considered to be motivated by hate, we would encourage and support this to be reported as a hate crime.

If we receive a complaint about aggressive or offensive messages in any form, including wording on flags or graffiti/vandalising of property, we will investigate and take appropriate action in line with our colleague policies and customers’ lease or tenancy agreements.