The general election campaign is a chance to shout loudly about housing and press for a re-evaluation of welfare reform. That was the message from CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat to housing professionals on the opening day of the TAI 2017 conference in Cardiff.
She welcomed the ‘fantastic’ decision of Welsh Government to end the Right to Buy and said it would be interesting to see if the UK Government rowed back from some of its controversial proposals.
But national politics and global uncertainty were creating tensions. ‘Whatever our housing role is, the day to day reality is we are juggling business decisions with the welfare of our tenants and the need to build new homes.’
She called for a commitment to truly affordable housing and a long-term funding model for supported housing plus more action on private renting.
But current proposals on welfare reform were a ‘massive challenge’ and more people were at risk of becoming homeless.
‘The growth of arrears in Universal Credit pilot areas demonstrates practical issues,’ she said. ‘There is a real need to focus on Universal Credit post election and make some practical changes.’
She also highlighted the impact of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap and the ‘even more alarming’ effects of the overall benefit cap.
New CIH Cymru director takes the stage at TAI 2017
CIH Cymru director Matt Dicks, addressing his first TAI, set out his vision for CIH’s work in Wales.
He stressed his particular commitment to training and career development for young housing professionals.
The Wales Audit Office has more on the Frontline Futures programme on its Good Practice Exchange blog today.
Welsh Government supporting development in the sector
The conference also heard from Ian Williams, head of RSL sector development at Welsh Government.
On reclassification, he urged housing associations to ‘keep borrowing and keep building and we will get you back in the public sector’.