CIH Cymru welcomes publication of affordable housing taskforce report

CIH Cymru welcomes today’s publication of the affordable housing taskforce’s report and recommendations for short, medium- and long-term changes needed to overcome the ongoing barriers to housing development in Wales. It is reflective of the collaborative and open work the taskforce has undertaken over the past few months. 

The report’s recommendations reflect many of the interventions that CIH Cymru and its members have been calling for from Welsh Government for a number of years but stops short of calling on Welsh Government to develop a comprehensive national housing strategy. CIH Cymru believes that a national strategy is vital to pull the key strategic levers, many of which are included within the taskforce’s recommendations, and unite them in a cohesive whole-system approach to our housing emergency. A national strategy would address the current acute shortage of homes and also work to future-proof our housing system so that we have enough homes that are sustainable for future, as well as current generations.

Matt Dicks, national director of CIH Cymru said:

“It is positive to see that many of the recommendations reflect what our members have been telling us, and that they recognise the structural nature of our housing emergency, that longer-term systems change is necessary if we are to stand any chance of reducing the numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and the numbers currently on social housing waiting lists.

We would however have liked to have seen the call for a national housing strategy which is necessary to pull the key strategic levers, many of which are outlined in the taskforce’s recommendations, together in a cohesive whole-system approach to our housing emergency. 

CIH Cymru, along with our campaign partners Tai Pawb and Shelter Cymru, believe that legislating to incorporate the Right to Adequate Housing into Welsh law will drive the whole system change that we need, embedding the provision of a safe, affordable and sustainable home for everyone in Wales as a foundation mission of government which transcends political cycles.”