CHC calls for next Welsh Government to make good housing central to recovery in Wales

In our Home manifesto launched today, we are calling on the next Welsh Government to invest in 20,000 new social homes over the next five years and an ambitious programme to make existing homes more energy efficient, to support the recovery of Wales post Covid.

Our proposals, alongside long term investment from housing associations and Welsh Government will:

• Support housing associations to continue to act as major local employers, directly employing 10,000 people across Wales
• Support a further 20,000 jobs and 6,000 training opportunities across the wider economy
• Provide a £6bn economic boost to communities up and down Wales
• Improve the nation’s health. Upgrading homes could lead to 39 per cent fewer hospital admissions for circulation and lung conditions

The pandemic has laid bare the importance of home, and highlighted the inequalities faced by people living in poor quality housing. Where we live has never been more important to how we live.

Our research shows that poor housing costs the NHS in Wales £95million each year in treatment costs, while 155,000 households still face fuel poverty in Wales.

Investing in a home that is adaptable, connected, warm and safe makes a massive difference to health outcomes and to the economy as a whole – generating thousands of jobs, reducing pressure on the NHS, and contributing to a collective ambition to reduce the emissions of Welsh housing.

The Home manifesto highlights some of the key challenges facing the sector, with housing associations committed to working side by side with the next Welsh Government through some bold pledges, which includes:

• Bringing £3bn private investment to Wales and securing a further £1bn in the next five years
• Matching every £1 invested to build new social housing
• Increasing its membership spend in Wales from 85p to 90p in every pound
• Act as major local employers, directly employing 10,000 people across Wales.

Stuart Ropke, Chief Executive at Community Housing Cymru said:

“The forthcoming election gives us all an opportunity to define Wales’ path out of the challenges that the pandemic has posed, and its result has the potential to plot a course to prosperity and health for the next generation. Ahead of launching the Home manifesto, we engaged with hundreds of colleagues from housing associations alongside almost 100 partners from the public, private and third sectors, and we want to see that pan Wales partnership work continue beyond the election next year.

“We are calling for a balanced investment programme from the next Welsh Government, that makes every pound work hard to provide an economic boost, as well as benefiting the health and wellbeing of the whole nation and future generations.

“We are serious about using our unique position to grow prosperous, healthy and connected places and this is why we have made some important commitments in the manifesto to work with the next Welsh Government. Now is the time to work together to make it happen.”

Read the full manifesto here.