Agenda item

[Report of the Director of Public Health. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.]A strategic commitment to LGBT+ inclusivity with an action plan for delivery.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning introduced the report which highlighted the importance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Non-Binary (LGBT+) inclusion and Cabinet’s commitment to equality for this group of staff and residents. It included an action plan, which outlines some of the specific actions the Council will be making for LGBT+ staff and residents.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning, outlined the Council’s work on LGBT issues, including:  internal work initiatives with staff, working with Stonewall to support young LGBT people who are being bullied, completing internal audits to assess equality, organising a staff network and instigating a process of data collection to assess LGBT applicants and progression in the organisation. Equally, through  the supported housing review, the Council  had recognised they might not be meeting the housing needs of some LGBT groups i.e. elderly LGBT living in supported accommodation who may have health issues or younger BAME LGBT people, fleeing family persecution and becoming homeless.  There was a key gap recognised, and a more systematic approach needed. It was important to start this conversation on housing needs for LGBT+ with the Council and housing providers.

The report set out an action plan to generate conversation on the gaps in provision and aid development of a wider strategy in consultation with LGBT+ community, staff, and stakeholders. The report sets out four initial priorities for discussion:

• Giving LGBT+ residents a stronger voice in shaping priorities and services to ensure that they meet the needs of LGBT+ residents

• Exercising system leadership across the networks of service providers supporting LGBT+ residents.

• Making Haringey a safe and welcoming place to live, work and visit for LGBT+ people.

• Making Haringey Council an LGBT+ inclusive workplace.

In response to questions:

• The challenges to tackle were service providers understanding the needs of the LGBT+ residents in commissioned housing.

• This work was important in terms of inclusivity and the visibility of inclusiveness. It was important for this work on supporting LGBT +  to not  be seen as a side-line, recognising that  LGBT+ residents contribute to the borough but also have support needs, and may also be disproportionately victims of hate crime. It was important to provide challenge to the mainstream  but keep distinctive, in terms of what the particular needs of the community are.

• Issue of intersexuality was not understood by housing providers. For example, a BAME LGBT person may be facing significant trouble at home and may become homeless because of this. Currently, this housing need issue is not understood. Equally, a homosexual elderly man who may have health support needs will also need specific housing support and this will  also need to be understood by the housing provider.

• Voluntary sector element had changed over the years with reduction in funding, impacting on LGBT+ organisations. A positive development was a meeting of Haringey LGBT network, facilitated by the Council, to get together a community network and consider, as a group, seeking grant funding. The Director for Public Health was happy to discuss with Cllr Hearn how she could be involved in this new network.

RESOLVED

To affirm the organisation’s commitment to LGBT+ equality and note the action plan (see appendix 1).

Reasons for decision

Cabinet’s full support highlights Haringey’s commitment to being a more equal and inclusive borough for both our staff and residents.

Alternative options considered

As a public body, we have an equalities duty; by not doing anything, we are at risk of not fulfilling this duty.