A new programme, ‘Solving the Housing Crisis?’ takes a look at how social housing contributes to our society and what the government can do to support people in need of a home
The three-part programme, meets those trying to make a positive difference, by building affordable homes and cultivating and nurturing communities in a bid to house a population that is finding it increasingly hard to find somewhere they can call home.
Created by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and ITN Productions , the news and current affairs-style programme combines interviews, case studies and sponsored stories from B3 Living, bpha, Bolton at Home, Broadland Housing Association, Housing Solutions Group, Hyde Housing Association, Longhurst Group, Magenta Housing, Moat Homes, Ongo Homes, Onward Homes, Places for People, RHP Group, Rosebery Housing Association, Settle, Silva Homes, Soha Housing, Southern Housing, Stafford and Rural Housing, Stonewater, Swan Housing Group, Trent & Dove Housing, United Welsh, WHG Housing Association, WM Housing and Wythenshawe Community Housing.
Interviewed exclusively for the programme, Terrie Alafat CBE, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said: “Can we really call ourselves a civilised society if we are not providing affordable homes for people who need them?”
She added: “The housing crisis is affecting people all over the UK, from young people unable to get their foot on the housing ladder to families putting up with poor conditions in the private rented sector, people stuck on the waiting list for social housing and homeless people trapped in poor quality B&Bs.
“We simply cannot go on with the system we have or the implications for future generations will be every bit as significant as the impact of Brexit.
“We’re delighted to have worked with ITN Productions on this project which explores the challenges, highlights potential solutions and showcases the vital work that housing professionals are doing.”
“Housing associations play a huge role in delivering other priorities that this country has, in terms of improving health, in term of economic recovery, in terms of helping people get into jobs, there is a whole range of other things that they do.
“It is not just housing associations, it is local authorities as well and we have been pushing government for quite a long time to enable local authorities to begin to build houses again in the way they did back in the 60s and 70s.”
The programme coincides with Housing 2018, CIH’s annual conference in Manchester due to end today (28th June), where speakers including housing minister Dominic Raab MP are due to address hundreds of housing professionals.
The programme features the work of Crisis, the Housing Plus Academy and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Simon Shelley, head of industry news, ITN Productions, said: “ITN Productions has been delighted to partner with the Chartered Institute of Housing to create ‘Solving the Housing Crisis?’.
“We hope this programme will help to inform and enlighten viewers of the importance of our housing sector and what more needs to be done to support people getting a home.
“We are extremely pleased with how this programme brings to life the initiatives and people who are devoted to driving positive change.”
The full programme can be viewed online at www.cih.org/solvingthehousingcrisis
