Associations can restore cohesion.

Housing Associations have a vital role to play in bringing
communities together, the National Housing Federation told
delegates.

Launching guidance, the federation said it believed housing
associations could promote community cohesion by responding to
resident disputes early and by dispelling myths and stereotypes
quickly.

Ted Cantle, chair of the government’s community cohesion review
team, added that housing associations should reduce choice-based
lettings if they were to have a positive impact. The author of the
report on the 2001 ethnic riots in northern England told delegates
that “unmitigated choices are not necessarily helpful”.

But Manningham Housing Association chief executive Anil Singh said
choice was vital if tenants were to make links with
neighbours.

Community Cohesion: in Business for Neighbourhoods from www.inbiz.org