We are now nearly four years into this government and their record is one of failure
The government has failed another crucial litmus test of its management of the housing disaster by missing its social and affordable housing targets for the third consecutive year, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan.
“The government had very clear targets for the delivery of new build social, and affordable purchase and cost rental homes, and it has again missed them.
“Confirmation that these crucial targets have been missed means this government hold the dubious distinction of having missed its own social and affordable housing targets for the third consecutive year.
“Out of a target of 9,100 new build social homes, just 8,100 were delivered. At a time of record homelessness, the consistent failure to meet social housing targets has enormously damaging consequences.
“When it comes to affordable purchase and cost rental homes, the target was 5,500 homes. Today’s figures reveal that less than 70 percent of this target – fewer than 1,500 affordable purchase and cost rental homes – were delivered.
“This government refuses to acknowledge that at the heart of the housing crisis is an affordability crisis. That is why we have more than 500,000 adults living in their childhood bedrooms and more than 4,000 children growing up in emergency accommodation.
“We are now nearly four years into this government and their record is one of failure. House prices, rents and homelessness have never been higher. Meanwhile, they can’t even meet their own modest targets for the delivery of social and affordable homes.
“What we need is a change of approach and a change of government. That is the only way to finally get to grips with this crisis.”
28 March, 2024
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