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71% of people in the
North West fear future generations will never have a 'forever home'
A staggering 71% of people in the North West fear it
will be impossible for future generations to have a home to settle down in,
new research by housing and homelessness charity Shelter reveals.
The Ipsos MORI survey, commissioned by Shelter and British Gas as part of a
new study into the meaning of home in Great Britain today, exposes alarming
social trends caused by the current housing shortage.
Nationally the research showed that for recent generations, the chance to
have a 'forever home' has been slipping increasingly out of reach.
Worryingly, 74% of people in younger Generations X and Y said it is harder
for them to get a home to settle down in than it was for their parents'
generation. This compares with only 44% of people born in the Baby Boomer or
Pre-War years.
A large majority of people who don't currently live in a long term home say
they would like to, either now or in future, with most saying the key reason
is to give them stability or to put down roots. However, the reality of life
for the millions of young people and families who make up 'generation
rent' is very different, with the research showing that 25 to 34 year olds
in Britain today have moved more than twice as frequently per year of their
lifetime as pensioners.
This new research marks the launch of the Great Home Debate. In its 50th
year of striving to end bad housing and homelessness, Shelter, with support
from British Gas, wants to have the country's biggest ever conversation
about the meaning of home. It will use people's views from the Great Home
Debate to shape new standards for homes in the 21st century.
Campbell Robb, Shelter's chief executive, said:- "The fact that vast
numbers of people fear their grandchildren will never have a home to put
down roots in, highlights the sad truth that this country is once again at
the mercy of a housing crisis.
While we have made progress over the last 50 years, our current housing
shortage means millions are facing a lifetime of instability and,
understandably, people are giving up hope. But if our history tells us
anything, it's that together we can make things change.
For the sake of future generations we cannot make this crisis someone else's
problem. We're urging the nation to tell us what they really need from a
home; so we can better help those who aren't lucky enough to have one. At
Shelter we won't stop until we all have a place to call home."
Anyone can join the nation's Great Home Debate by visiting:-
GreatHomeDebate.Org.UK and sharing their thoughts on the
meaning of home in Britain today.
Bryan Halliday, Head of Corporate Citizenship at British Gas, said:-
"Through our ongoing partnership with Shelter we've already helped to
improve living standards for thousands of families. This debate will help us
to understand how we can help more people in the future to have a safe, warm
and stable place to call home." Brenda case is a good example
of this. Brenda was raised in poor
privately rented housing in the 60's and went through a period of
homelessness. As a young married adult she bought her own home and raised a
family, but following a divorce, now finds herself back in unstable private
renting.
Brenda says:- "We've come full circle. There was a shortage of housing
in the 1960s, and we're facing the same problem again now. Houses are
unaffordable, the number of homeless people is rising, and landlords can
throw you out at short notice.
When we bought our house it was like a dream. It felt almost like we'd
started our journey in life because we owned a piece of land with a house on
it and nobody could throw us out. You've got local schools and shops nearby,
people know where you live, you become part of the community; and that's
what makes it a home.
Sadly, I don't think the future looks good for my daughter and my
granddaughter when it comes to having their own home, unless somehow I can
afford to help out." |
