Social housing 'demand growing'

Cornwall has higher housing need than the national average but fewer social houses.

The first homelessness strategy for the county intends to put this right as part of a national incentive.

Social housing forms only 12 per cent of housing stock in Cornwall compared to 23 per cent in the UK as a whole. 

The Cornwall Homelessness Strategy 2010-15 review also found that the number of applicants on the housing register had increased by 3,500 since 2005.  The number of households on the waiting list  rose to 18,931 in March this year compared to 15,349 households on the waiting list four years ago.

Specific groups being targeted are the elderly, families, people with learning disabilities, people with mental health issues, teenage parents, black and ethnic minority groups, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual groups.

The strategy is based on a review undertaken in 2009 that discovered a serious housing need in Cornwall.

Problems

Many factors have added to this housing crisis.  The geographical remoteness, an increasing and ageing population and a low wage economy.  

This has led to an increase in demand for affordable accommodation, particularly in the social rented sector, when combined with the current national economic problems

The amount of holiday homes in the county add  to these factors.

As part of the housing push Cornwall Council is also intending to reduce the number of rough sleepers, with the intention of reducing it to none in 2012.