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An attack on social housing is also an attack on older people An attack on social housing is also an attack on older people
(about 5 hours later)
The trials of Generation Rent have been well covered: people a decade either side of my age facing the prospect of renting forever, moving house regularly, and contemplating whether to raise children in a rented flat or forgo having kids forever. Most government housing policy is aimed at this section of society, particularly the relatively affluent young professionals who could put a deposit down on a Starter Home with tens of thousands of pounds of parental help. Less hope for those, like many young people, who couldn’t dream of earning enough for a home, despite help-to-buy schemes, or like me, who don’t have parents, let alone wealthy ones.The trials of Generation Rent have been well covered: people a decade either side of my age facing the prospect of renting forever, moving house regularly, and contemplating whether to raise children in a rented flat or forgo having kids forever. Most government housing policy is aimed at this section of society, particularly the relatively affluent young professionals who could put a deposit down on a Starter Home with tens of thousands of pounds of parental help. Less hope for those, like many young people, who couldn’t dream of earning enough for a home, despite help-to-buy schemes, or like me, who don’t have parents, let alone wealthy ones.
But the housing crisis doesn’t just affect the young, as anyone with half a brain and an enquiring mind will tell you. And recently, one group in particular has borne the brunt of shifts in housing policy: older people. The problems facing older people’s housing are complex and myriad, and tend not to make for a tidy headline or snappy slogan, but are no less urgent.But the housing crisis doesn’t just affect the young, as anyone with half a brain and an enquiring mind will tell you. And recently, one group in particular has borne the brunt of shifts in housing policy: older people. The problems facing older people’s housing are complex and myriad, and tend not to make for a tidy headline or snappy slogan, but are no less urgent.
Take supported housing: the government has rightly faced a backlash over plans to cut social rents by 1% – a move that could see the end of supported housing, as providers find themselves unable to afford the cost of running specialist housing for older people, domestic violence victims and people with complex care needs. The government has announced a one-year pause in the application of the cut, while a review is launched: the National Housing Federation points out that if it goes ahead, which seems likely, a total of 82,000 specialist homes could be lost. Take supported housing: the government has rightly faced a backlash over plans to cut social rents by 1% – a move that could see the end of supported housing, as providers find themselves unable to afford the cost of running specialist housing for older people, domestic violence victims and people with complex care needs. The government has announced a one-year pause in the application of the cut, while a review is launched: the National Housing Federation points out that if both the rent cut and new caps on benefits go ahead, which seems likely, a total of 82,000 specialist homes could be lost.
Any attack on social housing is also an attack on older people: only a quarter of social tenants are under 45, and 28% are over 65: five times as many over 75s rent social homes than rent privately. David Cameron’s plans to demolish “sink estates” mean driving older people from their homes, with little promise of a replacement home and no regard for the upheaval of displacement.Any attack on social housing is also an attack on older people: only a quarter of social tenants are under 45, and 28% are over 65: five times as many over 75s rent social homes than rent privately. David Cameron’s plans to demolish “sink estates” mean driving older people from their homes, with little promise of a replacement home and no regard for the upheaval of displacement.
Contrary to the lazy argument that older people have been protected by the cuts, many people over the age of 65 still live in poverty, and crucially, have suffered from cuts to their social care, housing and local services. Pensions have been protected, yes, but were modest anyway: a few extra pounds in your pension does little to help when your social care visits have been cut to 15 minutes a day.Contrary to the lazy argument that older people have been protected by the cuts, many people over the age of 65 still live in poverty, and crucially, have suffered from cuts to their social care, housing and local services. Pensions have been protected, yes, but were modest anyway: a few extra pounds in your pension does little to help when your social care visits have been cut to 15 minutes a day.
But the experiences of Generation Rent and older people are also linked: young people are relying on older relatives to help them clamber onto the housing ladder, either by providing free accommodation temporarily while they save a deposit, or refinancing family homes. The latter relies on a hope that the housing crisis is temporary, and they will recoup the cash eventually, preferably before needing it for social care or a retirement home. Whether retirement homes can still function remains to be seen.But the experiences of Generation Rent and older people are also linked: young people are relying on older relatives to help them clamber onto the housing ladder, either by providing free accommodation temporarily while they save a deposit, or refinancing family homes. The latter relies on a hope that the housing crisis is temporary, and they will recoup the cash eventually, preferably before needing it for social care or a retirement home. Whether retirement homes can still function remains to be seen.
The housing crisis doesn’t just affect the young: it affects almost everyone bar oligarchs, but particularly the poor and more vulnerable. Arguing that the housing crisis was caused by greedy and inconsiderate baby boomers ignores the ongoing idiocy of government policy and the very deliberate attempts to keep house prices high by those in line to profit. The decimation of social housing is an issue that particularly affects older people now, and younger people in the future. Rather than seeing the housing crisis as a generational conflict, we need to speak more about the older victims of the crisis, and accept that a right to a safe, and adequate, home should be extended to all – regardless of age, class or income.The housing crisis doesn’t just affect the young: it affects almost everyone bar oligarchs, but particularly the poor and more vulnerable. Arguing that the housing crisis was caused by greedy and inconsiderate baby boomers ignores the ongoing idiocy of government policy and the very deliberate attempts to keep house prices high by those in line to profit. The decimation of social housing is an issue that particularly affects older people now, and younger people in the future. Rather than seeing the housing crisis as a generational conflict, we need to speak more about the older victims of the crisis, and accept that a right to a safe, and adequate, home should be extended to all – regardless of age, class or income.