Karbon Homes has pledged its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, by signing the HouseProud LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, delivered by Stonewall Housing.
By signing the pledge, the northern housing association is showing its commitment to equality and support for LGBTQ+ residents and making housing more inclusive.
Di Keller, Strategic Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Karbon Homes said: “We’re proud to be working with Stonewall Housing and HouseProud on this important pledge.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and valued in their home, and this pledge reinforces our commitment to creating inclusive communities where people can truly be themselves.
“We’re proud to lead the way in the North East and look forward to working with our colleagues, customers and partners to make a real difference.”
Developed by HouseProud, the pledge is open to all social housing providers to sign and aims to address a number of issues identified by the experiences of LGBTQ+ residents in social housing.
Though the pledge, Karbon has committed to taking part in LGBTQ+ events with colleagues and customers and creating initiatives to promote LGBTQ+ visibility. The pledge will also form part of colleague induction and training and will build on its existing LGBTQ+ inclusion hub for colleagues.
Jack Mason, LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Project Coordinator at Stonewall Housing, said:
“It’s great to have Karbon Homes join the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge. It’s been a joy working with the team over the last few months, and hearing about the ways that the organisation’s inclusive culture is being championed and led from the top.
In the short time that Karbon Homes has been Pledge Signatories, we’ve already hosted a brilliant joint Pride in Housing Event in collaboration with Positive about Inclusion, highlighting ways that North East based housing providers can imbed LGBTQ+ inclusion into their work. We’re excited to continue supporting Karbon Homes on its LGBTQ+ journey.”
After taking the pledge promise, providers can begin working towards a two-level accreditation scheme, becoming either a Pledge Pioneer or Pledge Pioneer Plus.