Shelter calls for 90,000 affordable homes to rent to be built EVERY year

Shelter calls for 90,000 affordable homes to rent to be built EVERY year

9:53 AM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago 42

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Homelessness charity Shelter is calling for all political parties to commit to building 90,000 affordable social homes every year – with rents that are tied to local incomes.

It says the move will deliver a ‘lasting and ultimate solution to homelessness’.

Shelter is also pushing for the Renters (Reform) Bill amendments to be ditched – including a delay to banning Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions until the court system is improved.

The charity is now joining with other tenant organisations to say it no longer supports the bill.

Living in temporary accommodation

Shelter is speaking out after new government statutory homelessness figures reveal that 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families.

This is the highest figure ever recorded, representing a 15% increase in a year.

The data for England also reveals that 112,660 households were homeless and living in temporary accommodation at the end of 2023, another record high, up 12% in a year.

Also, 317,430 households were recognised as either homeless or at imminent risk of it by their council last year, the highest number since records began, and up 9% on the previous year.

‘The government cannot stand idly’

The charity’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “The government cannot stand idly by while a generation of children have their lives blighted by homelessness.

“Decades of failure to build enough genuinely affordable social homes has left families struggling to cobble together extortionate sums every month to keep a roof over their heads.

“Those who can’t afford private rents are being thrown into homelessness and then left for months and even years in damaging temporary accommodation because there is nowhere else.”

She added: “With a General Election approaching, it’s time for all politicians to show voters they are serious about ending the housing emergency.

“To dramatically reduce homelessness, we need every party to commit to building 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years, and an overhaul of the Renters (Reform) Bill so that it delivers genuine safety and security for private renters.”


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TJP

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12:42 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

The money saved on our non-functioning court system would build a few houses !!!!

Chris Brown

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13:36 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 02/05/2024 - 08:01
And so say all of us.
This is the best way for Shelter and similar organisations to take positive action to increase supply and so reduce the pressure on rents.

Jo Westlake

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14:22 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

If they focused on building retirement flats and co-living developments for young people they could very quickly free up or lower demand for existing family size houses.
Just about everyone who moves into a retirement property moves out of a bigger house.
How many families are suddenly entitled to an extra bedroom just because a child has their 16th birthday? By the time they get a bigger house the child is just about to leave home so they're then under occupying. They've probably had to relocate miles from their previous homes and change schools for the younger children. Wouldn't it make more sense to build suitable student style group flats for the 16 year olds instead of building bigger houses?
Instead of allocating self contained flats to young single parents why not build purpose built blocks of flats with a crèche and a manned reception desk? Provide safe supported housing and make it easier for young mums to get a job instead of viewing having multiple babies as their meal ticket. With the added bonus of deterring unwelcome controlling boyfriends/dealers/pimps.

SteveFowkes

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14:37 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 02/05/2024 - 14:22
You mean modern workhouses😬😬

havens havens

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15:33 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

The UK government could introduce incentives and policies to encourage the construction of purpose-built rental properties like offering tax breaks, grants, or subsidies to developers who commit to building rental homes instead of focusing solely on for-sale properties.
The Government could promote the build-to-rent sector by increasing the supply of high-quality rental accommodation and creating more options for tenants seeking long-term rental solutions

John

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15:55 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

I call for 2 million affordable homes to be built every year for the next 25 years.
There that should do it, problem solved.
Who needs Shelter.

GlanACC

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16:30 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by SteveFowkes at 02/05/2024 - 14:37
A 'modern' workhouse would have many advantages -

Keep the riff raff off the streets
Be a good incentive to actually pay your way and be a punishment if you fall into debt
Give the creditor some kind of perceived retribution.
Allow the debtor to work off his debt.

I would be happy to provide some tarred rope so that they could spend many hours unpicking it

Jo Westlake

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16:44 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by SteveFowkes at 02/05/2024 - 14:37
Why would any of what I suggested resemble any kind of workhouse?
Is it unreasonable to assist young single parents to get jobs? Childcare is one of the biggest barriers.
How many teenage girls deliberately get pregnant to escape from the family home? Often to escape from neglectful, abusive or inadequate parents

NewYorkie

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16:50 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by havens havens at 02/05/2024 - 15:33
Provide tax incentives to the BTR sector.

SteveFowkes

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16:53 PM, 2nd May 2024, About 7 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 02/05/2024 - 16:44
I think it would be better to educate them...re:family planning😮😮

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