A coalition of charities and property organisations has penned an open letter to the federal government, calling upon it to establish a Statutory National Housing Committee, that can advise on housing policy and measure the success or failure of presidency policy.
The 19 signatories of the letter seek advice from themselves collectively because the “Homes for All coalition”. Signatories include the Church of England’s lead bishop for housing, Guli Francis-Dehqani and Bonnie Williams, chief executive of the Christian charity Housing Justice.
Other members of the coalition include groups similar to Crisis, the New Economics Foundation, the British Property Federation and Generation Rent.
In the last 30 years, English house prices have risen by 377%, making home ownership a fantasy for big numbers of younger people without significant help from the ‘bank of mum and pop’.
It can be believed that as much as 14% of British homes fail to satisfy the Decent Homes Standard, while 10% are, based on the coalition, “exposed to the best level of health and safety hazard, putting them [residents] liable to serious harm.”
The coalition said that it welcomed government plans to construct 1.5 million homes, but added that their proposal of a statutory committee would be certain that “fundamental systems change” could proceed and solve the housing crisis long run.
As an example of what may very well be achieved, the coalition pointed to the Climate Change Committee as a body that gives expert advice to the federal government and updates to Parliament on the progress the federal government has made towards reaching climate targets.
The coalition said in its letter, “Establishing a recent National Housing Strategy Committee in law would hold future governments to account and ensure work continues to deliver the housing ambitions of the upcoming strategy.”
The coalition has produced its own report on tackling the housing crisis. The most important focus of the report is on attempting to be certain that the provision of recent housing keeps up with rising demand.
