Although many people think that culture refers only to knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors influenced by race or ethnicity, the concept also includes factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, level of education, physical capacity, spirituality and religion, sexual orientation, and regional influences. People’s beliefs and the demands of their environment influence culture, which is dynamic and continually changing.
In order to ensure that the application process for supportive housing is accessible to persons of all cultural backgrounds:
- All materials for tenants are written in plain language, and staff assists tenants in understanding the content of written materials, when necessary.
- Any intake/application forms can be completed orally to accommodate persons of varying literacy levels, and written materials are available in multiple languages.
- Multilingual staff, translated materials, and/or interpretation and translation services are available to tenants, as needed.
- If the process requires that applicants come to a particular location, the location and the schedule for receiving applications is convenient for potential applicants.
Next: Building and Maintaining Relationships with Landlord
