Building an anti-racist housing sector: why the SHARP pledge matters more than ever

Social housing has its roots in collective responsibility, providing homes and hope to those failed by the market. But while our mission is founded on fairness, the data tells us that disparities persist. People from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds are still more likely to live in overcrowded or substandard housing, to face barriers in accessing social homes and to experience discrimination in tenancy or employment processes.

For staff within the social housing sector, particularly those from racialised backgrounds, representation in leadership and governance remains limited. Despite a diverse workforce on the frontlines, boards and executive teams still don’t reflect the communities they serve. This imbalance affects decision-making, trust and the delivery of truly inclusive services.

“This imbalance affects decision-making, trust and the delivery of truly inclusive services”

The SHARP pledge calls on social landlords to confront these inequalities head-on, not through one-off training sessions or diversity statements, but through systemic transformation. It’s about embedding anti-racist values into every level of an organisation: governance, recruitment, procurement, service design and community engagement.

Anti-racism is a discipline. It demands reflection, honesty and, above all, accountability. Through SHARP, we are providing the housing sector with a framework to assess its culture, identify gaps and implement measurable change.

Participating organisations commit to a structured process of assessment, action planning and independent evaluation, ensuring that progress is sustained. The programme also promotes peer learning across the sector, helping leaders share what works and build collective confidence to challenge discriminatory systems and behaviours.

The ultimate goal is to make anti-racism part of the DNA of every housing provider, a standard as intrinsic as health and safety compliance or tenant safeguarding.

We are living through a period of profound social and economic challenges. Inequality is widening, housing insecurity is rising and polarisation is deepening. When communities are under pressure, scapegoating and division often follow.

The misuse of national symbols and inflammatory rhetoric has fuelled hostility towards racialised and religious groups, mistrust and division in our neighbourhoods. In such a climate, social landlords have a vital role to play.

“The misuse of national symbols and inflammatory rhetoric has fuelled hostility towards racialised and religious groups. In such a climate, social landlords have a vital role to play”

We are more than housing providers, we are anchors of community life. The way we lead on equality and inclusion shapes the tone of civic life itself. By signing up to SHARP, housing associations and local authorities can demonstrate not just compliance, but courageous leadership, showing residents and staff alike that racism has no place in housing.

A housing sector that fails to reflect and respect the diversity of modern Britain cannot meet its own mission. When residents feel seen, valued and protected, trust grows. When staff from all backgrounds have equal access to leadership opportunities, innovation and performance improves. And when boards take ownership of anti-racist change, organisations become stronger, fairer and more resilient.

As we face uncertain times, one thing remains clear: the fight against racism cannot be outsourced, postponed or diluted. The SHARP pledge is both a challenge and an invitation. It challenges leaders to look honestly at their organisations and to move beyond comfort into meaningful action. And it invites them to join a community of peers working together for lasting change.

Leslie Laniyan, chair, BME London Landlords