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Leeds housing crisis should spark ‘public outcry’
HOMES SHORTAGE: David Orr of the National Housing Federation said money should be found.
Families suffering in the Leeds housing crisis are in danger of becoming the ‘forgotten victims’, an expert warned today.
Social housing chief David Orr said if NHS waiting times had spiralled like housing waiting lists there would be a “public outcry”.
Yet the Government was still failing to tackle the housing shortage which has seen homeless numbers rise for the first time in seven years.
Mr Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, said: “Former housing minister John Healey said if you saw hospital waiting lists grow like housing lists have grown there would be a public outcry.
“The Government would find the money.
“Waiting for an operation is a problem, of course, but waiting for a home?
“We’re already seeing a rise in homelessness and people living in unsuitable accommodation or ‘sofa surfing’ from one friend’s home to the next.”
As reported by the YEP, Leeds – and the rest of the UK – is in the grip of the biggest housing crisis for decades.
The economic downturn means new houses are not being built either by the private or public sector. Last year across the Yorkshire and Humber region, only 8,950 new homes were built – the lowest level for 90 years and providing just a third of the homes needed.
That shortage has led to rents rocketing as landlords make the most of ‘supply and demand’.
And, in addition, buyers are struggling to meet the deposits demanded by lenders.
Mr Orr told the YEP the Government needed to act now to help build homes – which would in turn boost the economy.
“The Government will always say it has no money, but there are always choices.
“For instance it set aside £1bn so that local authorities could collect bins every week rather than every fortnight.
“It could have used some of that money to help housebuilding.
“If you get the industry going, you create homes, you create jobs, people spend money. Everyone benefits.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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OfferHomes4thehomelesspeopleWithMentalHealthIssuesNotHostelAccomodation
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 09:34 PMThere are serious floors in the way the housing system operates. The whole system is failing single females suffering mental health difficulties as my 29 year old daughter has anxiety disorder should not be in any type of shared accommodation. It is outrageous we are made aware there are one bedroom properties vacant and potentially becoming vacant properties around Leeds run by private landlords linked with the council who are charging extortionate rents and only considering the over 35s age group to claim the maximum amounts of LHA in a country that is already broke. The council have a duty of care when re-assessing my daughter on April 19th 2012 at Gt.George Street in Leeds when she produces supportive evidence from her GP and a letter from us her parents to prove we have asked her to leave because of her age now and not affording to pay her board money. I to provide her with suitable accommodation based on medical point scoring and not just homelessness. I sincerely hope this is the case. We have waited one month just for an appointment for her to be re-assessed I am praying she gets priority extra and the outcome is therefore NOT a hostel situation she cannot cope with under her current state, the council must understand that someone with frequent anxiety breakdowns mainly due to boredom the lack of investment in young people across Yorkshire and unemployment of course, is causing her to be on medication in the first place which calms down her attacks but leaves her paranoid and angry. The last thing she needs is to be bedded at night around strangers sharing washing facilities and have a rules of times to be back in the hostel, we have also heard horror stories that rooms have been raided by others. If she is stripped of her independence and her needs are restricted this will worsen her condition. I beg the council to see how my daughter will be affected and take responsible action in this matter.
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