Housing Justice News Release 25 January 2005
For immediate release
Housing Justice welcomes new government housing strategy
Housing Justice today welcomed the publication of the government’s new five year housing strategy, Homes for All, as offering innovative solutions to England ’s housing problems.
Robina Rafferty, Chief Executive of Housing Justice, commented “We welcome the measures announced in the strategy which will increase the range and quality of housing available, give tenants a stake in their communities, and begin to tackle the problems of homelessness.”
“Housing Justice will be mobilising church groups all over the country to monitor the impact of these measures at the local level.”
“In particular, we welcome the recognition of the problem of families living in temporary accommodation. However we are concerned that the target announced (to halve the record numbers of families in temporary accommodation by 2010) is far too limited. We need to move much faster to end the misery for thousands of children whose lives are currently blighted by the insecurity of temporary accommodation.”
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The government’s new five year housing strategy is available at www.odpm.gov.uk/fiveyearstrategy
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About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing. It was formed in April 2003 through the merger of two long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC) bringing together more than 60 years of experience of working for change in the field of housing.
Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need and campaigns to improve housing policy. Housing Justice funds a network of 10 housing advice agencies and numerous community projects, and develops models of good practice for frontline services that local groups can adopt. In total Housing Justice is actively involved in 35 communities across England and Wales.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the Home Office’s Civil Renewal Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods across the UK. Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share thinking and offer support.
Housing Justice works with and for homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of religious beliefs.
For further information on Housing Justice see www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
email media@housingjustice.org.uk