UNISON calls for safe, decent and affordable homes for all

More than a million people are lingering on waiting lists for council houses in England, says UNISON, as it publishes a new housing manifesto to see in the new decade. But despite the housing crisis highlighted by that statistic, fewer than 6,500 low-cost social rented homes were built in England in 2017/18. More than 60% of the housing budget goes towards supporting home-ownership. That, says the union, is unsustainable. Hence the manifesto – Safe, Decent and Affordable Homes for All: UNISON’s vision for Housing – which examines the crisis and outlines solutions. The crisis in England has worsened over the last decade, as the UK government has pressed ahead with austerity. That means that public-service workers and ordinary citizens have been priced out of the housing market: they cannot afford to buy, while private renting is expensive, insecure and unprotected. And most people do not qualify for social housing. The government admits that the housing market is broken. But UNISON says its unbridled emphasis on home ownership at the expense of quality social rented and other forms of housing is disproportionate. As a consequence, housing inequality, overcrowding, rough sleeping, homelessness, poverty, rent arrears and evictions are on the rise. “For far too long the housing needs of hard working citizens have been ignored at the expense of the privileged few,” says the union’s Sylvia Jones. “It’s time for the UK government to take action and invest in the ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News community housing housing associations housing crisis local government social housing Source Type: news