Citizens UK wants political parties to back proposals which would deliver thousands of affordable properties to ease pressure on the housing property market
An army of community campaigners could hold the key to tackling Britain’s affordable homes crisis under a radical plan to be unveiled today.
Citizens UK wants political parties to back proposals which would deliver thousands of properties to ease pressure on the housing property market.
Not-for-profit Community Land Trusts see activists build and manage homes rented out to tenants based on local pay rates.
Organisers will today visit towns across Britain to highlight their campaign in the run-up to polling day.
Citizens Chairman Paul Regan said: “Housing is a real issue for many of our members. They are increasingly finding that they are being squeezed out of the areas they call home, and as a result families are suffering the consequences - paying exorbitant rents, being overcrowded, or losing their wider support networks of friends and relatives as they are forced to leave their neighbourhood.
“We are calling on politicians to support the development of Community Land Trusts, which can contribute to the much-needed demand for more homes.”
The Mirror revealed in December how thousands of homeless families have been forced out of their local areas and placed in temporary accommodation away from their friends.
A total of 15,260 families living in hostels or bed and breakfasts have been moved from their home neighbourhoods - a rise of 29% in just 12 months.
Figures showed 60,470 homeless households were in temporary accommodation - the highest level for five years.
And this week it emerged nearly 1,000 more Britons are sleeping rough since David Cameron came to power, with 2,744 homeless people bedding down doorways and on the streets last autumn, compared with 1,768 four years earlier.
Supporters believe Community Land Trusts, where members own the organisation, build and run homes, can help.
There are 170 schemes already underway, with 3,000 homes expected to be built by 2020.
But leaders believe an election commitment to back the idea could see that number treble over the next five years.
They hope to develop disused council land and derelict buildings to spruce-up communities and boost the number of homes available.
And they hope that by taking on the major house builders, they can force down the cost of living for some of Britain’s most vulnerable people who struggle with soaring rent bills.
South London volunteer Nano McCaughan said: “All too often public land gets sold off and communities are promised affordable housing as a part of the development.
“But the reality of affordable housing in these schemes means that the majority of working families are still locked out of home ownership.
“The beauty of the Community Land Trust model is that the homes remain community assets in perpetuity.
“We think councils and developers have a responsibility to think more creatively about housing, particularly considering the increasing demand and anticipated population growth.”
