NHF: Housing and homelessness must be a priority for London Mayor, demand leading organisations

Wednesday, 2 April 2008 12:00 AM

Four leading housing organisations have joined together to challenge the three main parties' candidates for London Mayor to put housing and homelessness at the top of their agendas.

Last night (Tuesday April 1) Shelter, Crisis, the National Housing Federation and St Mungo's held a joint event to enable London voters to challenge Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson and Brian Paddick on the housing and homelessness issues that concern them.

This event follows polling that shows that the cost of housing is a top priority for Londoners (1).

The four organisers welcome each of the candidates' commitments to tackle the capital's housing and homelessness crisis should they win on May 1. The organisations are pledging to keep the pressure on the Mayor - whoever it will be - to follow up last night's words with action.

What the candidates said

Ken Livingstone welcomed the new housing powers provided by government, shortly to be coming into force, giving London's Mayor direct control over investment in affordable housing for the first time in his eight-year term in office. "Anyone in power must prioritise those in most need and who don't have their own voice", he said, and promised to do this should he remain as Mayor.

"When we first [said that] there should be a target of 50 per cent affordable housing [in new developments], we were told that it could not be achieved. Since then we have doubled the level of affordable housing. It's a great first step."

Boris Johnson emphasised the urgent need to support those on middle incomes who could not get their foot on the housing ladder, the "people in the middle who cannot get the kind of accommodation that their parents and grandparents got in London." The Tory candidate for Mayor focused on his proposed "FirstSteps" scheme to help low and middle earners get onto the housing ladder, making properties 20 per cent cheaper than similar open market homes in the local area, despite criticisms that homes at these prices would still be out of reach for many.

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick explained his primary focus on "social rented housing not housing for sale", to help those unable to purchase even a share of a home. "Using the market is not going to solve the crisis. We have got to build more housing that is subsidised one way or another", he said.

All three candidates agreed that rough sleeping should be eradicated from London by 2012. "To get rough sleepers off the streets, we may have to use some money to provide not just housing but the support as well. But over four years it [the target to end rough sleeping in London by 2012] can be achieved", Ken Livingstone promised.

The housing and homelessness crisis

· There are 334,000 households on social housing waiting lists in London

· 30,000 households in the capital applied to their local authorities for homelessness assistance last year

· There are around 57,000 households in London living in temporary accommodation. London accounts for 70 per cent of England's households in temporary accommodation

· Nearly 3,000 people slept rough in London in 2006/07

· The average home in London now costs 13 times the average income, and prices have increased 200 per cent since 1997

Quotes

Jamie McCoy, who lives in Greenwich, attended the debate, and said:

"I was interested in what they had to say, but the same issues kept getting the same answers. It doesn't matter what the Mayor says or does: we're still in a housing crisis and they need to do a lot more to solve it."

Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson said:

"It is vital that the next Mayor of London makes housing their number one priority, and delivers the affordable homes that London desperately needs. Our capital has the most acute housing and homelessness problem in the UK, yet the capital's affordable housing supply is not keeping pace with demand. The Mayor must tackle this problem across all London boroughs."

Charles Fraser, Chief Executive at St Mungo's, said

"It's great that all three mayoral candidates have pledged to end London's housing crisis - however the next London Mayor needs to commit to prioritising rough sleepers in his health and employment strategies. Accessible health and work services for rough sleepers are essential, otherwise they will continue to shuffle between hostels and the streets."

Belinda Porich, Head of London at the National Housing Federation, said:

"London needs more high quality affordable housing and strong, thriving neighbourhoods. Housing associations have the resources and track record to continue to deliver both, and we urge the newly elected London Mayor to stand by their promises to make affordable housing a priority."

Duncan Shrubsole, Director of Policy and Research at Crisis, said:

"By the end of the next mayoral term, we want to see rough sleeping ended for good in the capital, more housing for all needs and homeless people helped to rebuild their lives and get back to work."

ENDS

For further information or additional interviews with Shelter, Crisis, St Mungo's or Federation spokespeople, please contact:

Hannah Davies, 020 7067 1042 / 07970 592 116

Notes to editors

(1) See http://www.londonpolicyinstitute.org/LPI_YouGov_release.doc or http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/annual_survey/2007/als-2007-toplines.pdf

About the event organisers

Crisis

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We have a vision of social integration and work year-round to help vulnerable and marginalised people get through the crisis of homelessness, fulfil their potential and transform their lives.

National Housing Federation

The National Housing Federation represents 400 not-for-profit, independent housing associations in London, who together provide more than 500,000 homes for 1.35 million people in the capital. We support and promote their work, and campaign for better housing and neighbourhoods.

Shelter

Shelter believes everyone should have a home. We are the fourth richest country in the world, and yet millions of people in Britain wake up every day in housing that is run-down, overcrowded or dangerous. We help 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.

St Mungo's

St Mungo's is London's largest charity for homeless people. Every night we house over 1,400 homeless men and women. We are also the largest provider of street outreach services and emergency shelters in London. We support homeless people in their recovery - opening the door to safe housing, healthcare and work.

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