The Government today published its Social Housing Green Paper, aiming to rebalance the relationship between landlords and residents, tackle stigma and ensure social housing can act as a stable base and support social mobility.
Denise Hatton, YMCA England & Wales Chief Executive, said:
“Home building has been neglected by successive governments for far too long and has resulted in affordable housing being a myth for many.
“While the social housing green paper includes some vital measures to make social housing tenants feel more secure, it’s imperative that the Government invests in social housing and looks at alternative models of low-cost housing to make up the housing shortfall that has led to the current housing crisis. Something this green paper fails to address.
“With social housing being scarce, we know young people struggle to afford the costs of private rent, leaving them with few options when they are ready to move on from supported accommodation. Even for a young person in employment, a combination of low wages and high rents can quickly see them priced out of the market. Investing in alternative models of accommodation presents a significant opportunity to deliver genuinely affordable housing to meet the increasing demand across the country.”