S6 Ep3: How to make housing fair with Vicky Spratt and Auriol Miller
Jul 24, 2024
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Vicky Spratt, housing correspondent for the inewspaper, and Auriol Miller, CEO of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, tackle the UK's housing crisis. They discuss the staggering number of 1.3 million people on social housing waiting lists and the government's failure to address rising homelessness. Vicky shares insights from her acclaimed book on the rental crisis, while Auriol emphasizes the urgent need for affordable housing in Wales. Together, they advocate for integrated solutions and community involvement to create stability and accessibility for all.
The current housing crisis in Britain, marked by high homelessness and substantial waiting lists, necessitates comprehensive, systemic reforms to ensure safe and affordable housing for all.
Wales' innovative housing policy emphasizes community support and ambitious social housing targets, serving as a model for sustainable solutions to address regional housing challenges.
Deep dives
The Housing Crisis as a Human Rights Issue
Safe, stable, and affordable housing is a recognized human right, yet the ongoing housing crisis in Britain highlights a stark failure to fulfill this fundamental need. Currently ranking high in homelessness and facing exorbitant housing costs, Britain confronts a dire situation where 1.3 million individuals are on social housing waiting lists. The speakers emphasize that rising homelessness, particularly among families with children, is a pressing concern that requires immediate action alongside broader systemic reforms in the housing market. This interconnectedness underscores the complexity of the crisis, suggesting that isolating one aspect, such as homelessness or rent prices, isn't feasible; comprehensive solutions are necessary.
The Urgency of Building Social Housing
The decline in social housing development is a critical factor contributing to the housing crisis in the UK. With historical evidence supporting the notion that social housing construction positively impacts public health and economic stability, the lack of investment and focus in this area has created significant deficits. Efforts to replace demolished or sold social housing have not kept pace with demand, exacerbating the plight of low-income families facing homelessness. The discussion highlights a need for renewed political commitment to social housing construction, emphasizing its potential to address broader social issues.
Welsh Housing Initiatives and Perspectives
Housing policy in Wales has emerged as a model for addressing the housing crisis differently compared to England, with a focus on prevention and community support. The Welsh government has prioritized ambitious targets for social housing in the face of significant challenges, including a poor housing stock and rising living costs. Although the numbers are alarming, there is a clear intention from the Welsh government to enact reform and improve housing quality through ongoing initiatives like the Welsh Housing Quality Standards. Key discussions revolve around the necessity of collaboration between government entities and the communities they serve to ensure effective delivery of housing solutions.
Navigating the Complexities of Housing Policy
The dialogue illustrates the multifaceted nature of housing policy, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches tailored to regional conditions. Suggestions surrounding planning regulations, such as the potential benefits of local development corporations and changes to land market laws, reflect the need for innovative solutions in a complex landscape. The proposed initiatives aim at striking a balance between building new homes and addressing the existing housing stock's quality through retrofitting. The conversation reveals a consistent theme that sustainable housing solutions must involve community engagement and an understanding of local needs to effectively tackle the housing crisis.
Housing is one of the most pressing problems this new Government must fix. Will Hutton is joined by Vicky Spratt, the inewspaper's housing correspondent, and Auriol Miller, the CEO of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, a major not-for-profit organisation providing affordable homes in Wales.
Housing is an issue that has thwarted a long line of Governments, and it feels like we are no closer to solving the crisis. Latest figures show that almost 1.3 million people in England are on social housing waiting lists with a combined wait for council housing of 1844 years.
Vicky's book Tenants, which examines the UK rental crisis, was named one of the best books of 2022 by the Times. Prior to joining Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, Auriol was Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA), Wales’ leading think tank, where she focused on opening up the organisation beyond its traditional reach.
Season 6 of the We Society Podcast from the Academy of Social Sciences continues to tackle the big questions through a social science lens. Throughout this series, you'll be hearing some of the best ideas to shape the way we live.
Hosted by journalist and Academy President Will Hutton, we interview some of Britain’s top social scientists and public figures from across the globe to explore their evidence-led solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
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