Shrewsbury homeless charity calls on government to define "affordable housing"
Rachel Reeves has announced £2 billion of funding to go into social and affordable housing
A homeless charity in Shrewsbury is calling on the government to define social housing, as they commit to building more social and affordable housing.
Today (25 March) Rachel Reeves has pledged £2 billion in funding, in the hopes of building 18,000 more homes before the end of this parliament.
"We are fixing the housing crisis"
It is being delivered as part of the government's Plan For Change aiming to build 1.5 million new homes whilst driving economic growth.
Construction will start in March 2027.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “We are fixing the housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.
"Today’s announcement will help drive growth through our Plan for Change by delivering up to 18,000 new homes, as well as jobs and opportunities, getting more money into working people's pockets”.
What is the reaction from the Shrewsbury Ark?
The Shrewsbury Ark are a charity supporting homeless people in Shropshire. Kim Tunbridge, the fundraising and community lead, told us she backs the government's announcement:
"If the government are genuinely looking at making space for people that have no savings, it will be a really wonderful thing," she said.
Kim said the scheme was a good idea, provided the people that need it can access these homes:
"There is no guideline for affordability. If they are putting money into social homes, that is a really good thing.
"We have people desperate for social housing, there just is not enough of it in Shrewsbury. I sat with a man this morning who was absolutely desperate. He just wants a room in a house where he can start to get his life back together, " she said.
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