Housing Executive launches Hate Harassment Toolkit
A Hate Harassment Toolkit offering guidance and practical information to improve support for people experiencing hate harassment, has been launched by the Housing Executive.
The Toolkit aims to provide a wide range of practical information and advice to staff, community workers and other professionals throughout Northern Ireland to help provide a comprehensive service to victims and witnesses of hate harassment. It was compiled after extensive consultation by NIHE with communities, community safety partnerships, minority ethnic groups and other key stakeholders, combined with reviews of best practice across the UK.
What is hate harassment?
The toolkit loosely defines hate harassment as harassment, intimidation or abuse
on the grounds of actual or perceived:
- ethnicity
- sexual orientation
- gender identity
- religion
- political opinion
- disability
The toolkit also addresses antisocial behavior, and highlights the difference between the two areas and how to report them.
Support available
The toolkit highlights the Hate Incident Practical Action Scheme (HIPA), available to support victims of hate harassment where the motive of the perpetrators has been discrimination based on disability, race, sexual orientation/gender identity, or religion.
Victims may be owner occupiers, tenants renting privately, Housing Executive tenants or Housing Association tenants. If the home has been damaged, or the incident has occurred in close proximity to the property, the scheme can provide personal and home protection measures.
The toolkit highlights other areas of housing support such as grants and compensating and accommodation and the role of other agencies such as the PSNI.
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