JRF - Government’s housing plans fall far short for low income families

6 Mar 2018 09:22 AM

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), responded to the Prime Minister’s speech on planning and housing

“High housing costs are trapping people in poverty, but every year we’re falling short of building the low-cost rented homes we need to meet demand. It is not right that so many families are struggling to make ends meet.

“Yet the speech overlooked entirely the role central government must play in redesigning the housing market and building the affordable homes we need – private developers and local authorities cannot do this alone.

“A failure to do so will mean that many families on low incomes will miss out on the opportunity to build a decent and secure life. The forthcoming social housing Green Paper is an opportunity: we urge the Government to commit to building 78,000 affordable homes a year.”

PM speech on making housing fairer: 5 March