A regional rally calling on politicians to tackle the housing crisis arrived in Leicester with tenants, housing associations and academics joining the campaign.
The East Midlands Housing Relay has seen events being held every day across the region in the run-up to a national Homes for Britain rally on Tuesday, 17 March.
The campaign aims to highlight the lack of good quality, affordable housing in Britain and the issues faced by people who cannot afford to rent or buy properties because of a lack of available homes.
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s campus was the venue for the Leicester leg, which saw a giant key, symbolising the campaign, be handed over.
DMU is home to the Centre for Comparative Housing Research which is one of the country’s leading university think-tanks on housing issues.
Professor Jo Richardson, Director of the Centre for Comparative Housing Research, said: “Good quality, affordable homes are important not only for the economy but for our health and wellbeing.
“We are losing social housing stock. Homes which were sold through Right to Buy have not been replaced.”
Blaby tenant Colin Norman was helped to find a home near his daughter in Leicestershire. He said: “We are simply not building enough to meet demand and are heading towards a potentially critical situation as more and more people are being priced out of owning and even renting their own home.
“That is why it is so important that we create a bigger united voice to ensure that all policy makers and leaders hear our pleas for more homes for the future.”
Ann Harris, who is part of Together for Tenants organisation in Hinckley, was there to join the protest. She said: “There has got to be a more realistic approached to housing.
“Where’s the housing to help people who are vulnerable? When you pay thousands in housing benefit and 80% goes to people in work who can’t afford to pay their full rent, is it subsidising housing or it is propping up lower wages?
“Unless we do something about the housing crisis now, we will struggle to give our young people the sense of belonging to a community that they need."
Up to 10 other housing associations and housing-related organisations across the East Midlands have joined in the regional campaign.
The relay was devised by Futures Housing Group’s Chief Executive Lindsey Williams. She said: “The housing crisis has a wide-reaching impact right across the country. A shortage of housing threatens the potential growth and development of local communities and economies. As East Midlands-based housing providers, we are well aware of the challenges that exist in our region alone.”
Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2015