“Investment in quality,
affordable homes is not just about bricks and mortar. It helps tackle poverty,
achieve educational attainment, improve health and wellbeing and support jobs
and growth for people across Wales.
“To this end, I’m
very encouraged by the response to our ambitious new target of delivering
10,000 during this term of Government. The housing supply pact which I agreed
with Community Housing Cymru last month helps provide clarity on how best to
meet and exceed this target.
“One of the primary
commitments of the pact was to look at innovation and delivery, ensuring we do
more with less in order to provide as much as possible for the people of Wales.
An example of where this is already happening is through the Housing Finance
Grant, where the Welsh Government and housing associations have worked together
to deliver over 1,000 further affordable homes thanks to £125
million of private funding.
“Despite a shrinking
budget and the UK Government’s welfare reform agenda hitting some of the
poorest and most vulnerable people hardest, we must do more. I have asked
officials, in conjunction with housing sector, to examine and test how the
Social Housing Grant programme can deliver more, while being very clear about
our continuing commitment to social housing.
“I look forward to
continuing to work with housing associations, and others, in order to ensure
that housing continues to make a real difference to people across
Wales.”