Riverside - Champions for change

17 September 2009

Five of the UK’s leading housing associations are lobbying policy makers to consider a radical new approach to take housing forward after the recession.

The Housing Futures Network - made up of Riverside, Affinity Sutton, Places for People, Gentoo and London & Quadrant - will present the key findings of its report Homes for Tomorrow: New Directions for Housing Policy at the three main party conferences in late September and early October.

The report makes the case for a ‘new purpose’ for state subsidised housing outlining the changes to current delivery models that are needed to achieve it. It then goes on to consider how housing associations should be accountable to their stakeholders, setting out the principles of how a new system of regulation should work.

Deborah Shackleton, Chief Executive of Riverside, said: “While the government has acknowledged that many current housing policies are no longer fulfilling their original aims, there seems to be a bigger appetite for radical reform amongst housing providers than politicians. Our aim is to stimulate debate and influence all political parties to be bold when considering the future direction of housing policy in the run up to the general election and beyond.

“We need a radical new model that delivers affordable housing which promotes social integration and enhances the life chances of residents -offering flexibility and choice to meet needs as they change over time. New homes are important, but we also need to look at the long term relationship between rents, subsidy and welfare benefits, moving away from funding bricks and mortar, to providing help to people when they need it.

“A new model should cut across the traditional ‘silos’ of tenure - enabling people to pay for their housing in different ways as their circumstances change, without them necessarily having to move house - including moving from social rent to market rent, shared or full ownership and trading back down if necessary.”

The Guardian’s Peter Hetherington will chair the fringe events to be held at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative Party conferences. Representatives of the Housing Futures Network will present the report, with leading party thinkers responding prior to an open debate.

Deborah added: “This is a timely opportunity to throw down the gauntlet and influence political thinking. We believe that the combined size and experience of Housing Futures Network members gives our voice real credibility”.

To read a copy of the report click here