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300 landlords sign up to CIH domestic abuse campaign
More than 300 social landlords have now signed up to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) campaign to tackle domestic abuse.
The CIH launched its Make a Stand campaign eight months ago, calling for social landlords and housing organisations to commit to helping residents and staff suffering the effects of domestic abuse.
Collectively, the 302 landlords signed up own and manage 2.6 million homes – more than half of all the social housing in the UK.
Jim Strang, the new president of the CIH, announced the milestone during his speech to the body’s annual presidential dinner this evening.
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Mr Strang, who is also chief executive of Parkhead Housing Association, said: “Domestic violence was a regular visitor in our house when I was a child, and it was never really a home because of its presence.
“Housing as a profession is ideally placed to help identify the signs, to deal with the outcomes and help tackle some of the root causes of domestic violence.
“I am thrilled to announce that more than 300 organisations have signed up to Make a Stand less than year after its launch.
“I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor Alison Inman who started this campaign rolling, and a huge thank you to every single organisation and person who has been involved so far.”
The Make a Stand campaign was launched in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA).
Sian Hawkins, head of campaigns and public affairs at Women’s Aid, said: “By signing this pledge, these housing organisations have recognised the important role they have in helping survivors – whether they need support to be safe in their own homes or set up a new home after fleeing their abuser.
“This is the first step to making sure every survivor and child gets the support they need from housing organisations to rebuild their life free from domestic abuse.”
Kelly Henderson and Gudrun Burnet of DAHA said: “We are delighted with the success of the Make a Stand campaign. It is really heartening to see more and more housing organisations making a stand against domestic abuse.”
Make a Stand
The ‘Make a Stand’ pledge has been developed by CIH in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) – made up of Standing Together Against Domestic Violence, Peabody and Gentoo. It was launched under the CIH presidency of Alison Inman in 2018, and then continued by her successor as president Jim Strang.
As of 6 February 2018, 300 organisations had signed up.
As part of the pledge, housing organisations can make four commitments to support people who live and work in housing who are experiencing domestic abuse.
These four commitments are:
* To put in place and embed a policy to support residents who are experiencing domestic abuse
* To make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on your website and in other places which are easily accessible to residents and staff
* To put in place a HR policy and procedure on domestic abuse, or to incorporate this into an existing policy, to support members of staff who are experiencing domestic abuse
* Appoint a champion in your organisation to own the activity you are doing to support people experiencing domestic abuse
Click here to read a piece by former CIH president Alison Inman explaining more about the campaign
