Ethos Public Relations Manchester

'Proposals a crude safety valve - cobbled together'

by Ethos public relations

Mike Creamer, Chief Executive of Contour Housing Group - one of the North West’s biggest housing and regeneration organisations - has commented on today’s announcements regarding social housing.

“The leaked misinformation over the last few days has done nothing to soften the impact of these massive cuts, especially when combined with the housing benefit restrictions already announced.

“Limiting the security of tenure through intermediate tenancies will not improve the supply of affordable rented homes for those on lowest incomes in the short term. Far worse, in the long term insecure tenure will drive out the economically active from neighbourhoods, leaving residual communities on permanent benefit – a return to the early 1980`s.

“The prospect of more new homes at near market rents should also not be misunderstood. Something is needed for the millions of younger people who can’t afford to buy, but who are not poor enough to qualify for traditional rented homes. However, Government will not want housing benefit to be paid on these higher rents. It is unlikely therefore that these “150,000 new homes” will be made available to those in greatest need.

“Overall, all that has been produced is a crude safety valve which will allow the pent up pressure for more homes to be relieved a little. The underlying causes remain. Housing Associations now need to work out how we can make the most of the cobbled together machinery and turn it in to something that works for those needing our help.”

Posted at 20^th October 2010