Government Housing Strategy Raises False Hope

“For the millions of people on waiting lists, living in unsuitable homes, or struggling to get on the housing ladder, the Government’s latest bid to tackle the housing crisis, does little more than cruelly raise false hopes”, warned Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, today.Decent, affordable housing is in short supply said the union, but today’s announcement of £400m has to be seen in the context of the 60 per cent - £4billion - cut to the affordable housing budget announced in last year’s spending review.Dave Prentis, went on to say:“The level of demand for affordable homes is outstripping supply at a rate of two to one. The government’s dogmatic refusal to spell out the extent to which their measures will address this gap does not give any grounds for optimism.“We need serious, long-term investment in the housing sector to give people hope and to boost jobs and the economy.”