Families in Yorkshire are facing a housing crisis, with many waiting for social homes as numbers continue to rise
York: It’s a tough time for families in Yorkshire. A record number of households are waiting for social housing, and the situation is getting worse.
As of March 2024, over 172,000 families are on the waiting list in the Yorkshire and Humber region. That’s a big jump from last year, and it’s the highest number we’ve seen in a decade.
Across England, there could be around 1.3 million households waiting for council homes. This number has gone up by three percent since last year, and it’s a staggering 13 percent increase since 2020.
These figures only cover council waiting lists, so the actual need for housing might be even higher when you consider private social housing.
In response to this crisis, the District Councils Network is calling for more social homes to be built. They represent 169 councils and want to cut down on red tape and make it easier for councils to use empty properties.
Looking at the numbers, Kirklees has about 13,920 families waiting, while Leeds has around 21,202. Bradford is also seeing a significant rise, with 22,559 households on the list.
Experts are sounding the alarm. Cllr Hannah Dalton from the District Councils’ Network says the housing crisis is affecting lives and communities. People like teaching assistants and nurses can’t afford to live where they work, and young folks are being pushed out of their hometowns.
She believes councils need more power to ensure developers stick to their promises for affordable housing and to manage empty homes better.
The Social Housing Action Campaign is also raising concerns. They argue that the growing waiting list shows the flaws in government housing policies. They think the government shouldn’t allow rent increases that are higher than inflation, as this just pushes more people onto waiting lists.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing says they’re working with councils to deliver 1.5 million homes. They acknowledge that local government has faced challenges and are taking steps to help, including reforms to the Right to Buy scheme.
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