The prime minister Tony Blair declared that social housing is a government priority in a speech on reform of the welfare state on Monday.

The comments have helped to allay the sector’s fears that the government is more focused on the needs of first-time buyers than those of homeless people.

In his speech at Beveridge Hall in London, Blair said: “Pressures on housing mean that it is now a major barrier to opportunity, particularly for those trying to get into the housing market for the first time. Our forthcoming housing strategy will show how we provide new pathways into home ownership as well as improving social housing.”

Sue Regan, policy director of Shelter, welcomed Blair’s speech but said the government was still too focused on people’s aspirations. She said: “It’s good news that he talked about housing at all in a speech on the welfare state … But I still think there’s not a commitment to meeting housing need as well as meeting housing aspiration .”

The “forthcoming strategy” in the speech is the ODPM’s five-year plan, due out before the end of the year.

Source

Housing Today