We have a housing crisis in Stoke-on-Trent. With close to 3000 people waiting for a Council house, and many more in unsafe, insecure privately rented accommodation, it is vital that we act now to end the housing crisis.

Social housing shouldn’t be thought of as just for the most deprived; it should be there to support young homeowners to save enough for a deposit on their own home and it should be there for older homeowners who rent privately and worry that their savings won’t cover the rent for much longer. 

Social housing provides people with much greater housing security, allowing them to get on with their lives without the constant fear of having their home taken out from under their feet. In turn, this housing security allows people to put down roots and take part more fully in community life. It allows people to be bold and more enterprising, giving people the security they often need to take a leap and start their own businesses. 

Social housing makes us all richer as a society – our sense of community and pride of place grows deeper. Our ability to get onto the housing ladder is increased as folks aren’t forced to pay exorbitant rents to private landlords. And the extra cash in our pocket goes into local businesses, supporting local people’s jobs. 

The Conservatives have failed on housing, failing to build enough houses to keep pace with the rate of population growth. 

Labour will work hard to ensure that everyone has a place to call their own, and that starts with ensuring an adequate supply of social housing for people in places like our great city.

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