The Government has confirmed it will bring forward a green paper on social housing in England. As well as safety issues, the green paper will also explore the quality of social housing, the rights of tenants, service management, tackling homelessness, tackling illegal sub-letting and the wider issues of community and the local economy.
Speaking at the National Housing Federation annual conference yesterday, the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities, Sajid Javid said:
“The green paper will be the most substantial report of its kind for a generation. It will kick off a nationwide conversation on social housing. What works and what doesn’t work. What has gone right and what has gone wrong. Why things have gone wrong and – most importantly – how to fix them.”
The green paper will be a “wide-ranging, top to bottom review” of the issues facing the social housing sector and will be the “most substantial report of its kind for a generation.”
It is intended to “kick off a nationwide conversation on social housing – what works and what doesn’t work, what has gone right and what has gone wrong”, Mr Javid said.
St Mungo’s welcomed this announcement. For people who are homeless, or who have spent time on the streets, social housing is a vital move on option from specialist hostels like ours.
Dominic Williamson, Executive Director of Policy and Strategy at St Mungo’s said “Our clients must have the opportunity to make a home, to support their recovery and reach their goals, which is why we want to see a strong focus on genuinely affordable housing and improved access to social housing for the most vulnerable.
“This is why we will continue to press the government for a national strategy to end rough sleeping and to commit to secure future funding for supported housing, to help vulnerable people with the most complex needs to get the help they need to move on with their lives.”
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The Government’s new funding proposals could put supported housing (hostels), a primary route out of rough sleeping at risk. Please support our campaign to #SaveHostels by signing our petition.
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