Thousands of families across Lancashire are trapped in uninhabitable rented homes and temporary accommodation as a new homeless crisis has been declared.
Dozens of Shelter staff and volunteers in Blackburn took part in a ‘noisy’ day of activism to mark World Homeless Day (October 10) and throw the spotlight on the worsening housing emergency which is now a much deeper issue than just rough sleeping.
The ‘Louder Together’ day of activism demanded the government takes urgent action as 6,870 people are officially recorded as homeless in the North West and thousands more are trapped in expensive private rentals and 'grotty' and overcrowded B&BS.
The team came together to make as much noise as possible in the space of a minute using drums and voices to sound the alarm on the housing emergency - asking politicians to hear its call and commit to rebuilding the broken housing system.
Emma Garner, strategic lead at Shelter’s service hub in Lancashire said: “The people of Lancashire deserve better. Every day we hear horror stories from homeless families trapped in grotty and overcrowded B&Bs, or private renters who are too terrified to ask for basic repairs in case they are slapped with a no-fault eviction.
"The housing emergency is ruining lives at every turn – and as we mark World Homeless Day this October, it can no longer be ignored.
“As the next General Election looms, no political party can consider itself ready to lead the country unless it is willing to tackle the housing emergency head-on. We need political leaders to listen and act.
“The families and people living in Lancashire need better, safer housing, and the only way to do that is to build more social homes and make renting safer and affordable.”
Rough sleeping is the most visible example of homelessness, but it is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the housing emergency in the North West.
Almost 7,000 people are living in temporary accommodation (TA) – many of whom are families with children. Nationwide, the number of people living in TA is at the highest figure since records began.
Temporary accommodation can take the form of emergency hotel and B&B rooms, hostels, converted office blocks, and cramped flats. It provides no security as people are regularly moved, and it is often overcrowded, run down, and unsuitable for living in for long periods.
Beyond the stark issue of homelessness, there are thousands more people in Lancashire who are trapped living in private rentals which are poorly regulated, insecure and often unaffordable, simply because they have no other options.
Shelter is arguing that at the heart of this emergency lies the dire shortage of decent, genuinely affordable social homes. 20,352 households in Lancashire are stuck on social housing waiting lists – and yet more social homes are demolished or sold off each year than are being built.
Ahead of the next General Election, the charity has put together a four-point plan outlining what people across England and the housing sector need from their future government:
- Build a new generation of social homes: as the only lasting solution to the housing emergency because they are genuinely affordable with rents tied to local incomes.
- Make renting affordable: to protect renters from financial hardship and homelessness the Renter’s Reform Bill must become law to end no-fault evictions, housing benefit must be unfrozen, in-tenancy rent rises regulated, and the benefit cap scrapped.
- Raise standards in social and privately rented homes: to protect people’s safety and wellbeing there needs to be tougher regulation, better management, and more investment in the proper enforcement of standards.
- Strengthen housing rights for tenants: stronger housing rights are integral to tackling homelessness and allowing people to understand where to find the support to address problems before they escalate. Also, we must give everyone at risk of street homelessness a legal right to suitable emergency accommodation and adequate support.
Shelter is also asking the public to support the campaign by signing an open letter to political leaders, insisting they make solving the housing emergency a priority at the next election.
It is available to sign here: Political Leaders: Ignore the Housing Emergency, lose the election | Campaigns - Shelter England
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here