Minister opens Chatham Housing Advice Centre
01 May 2008
Regional Minister for the South East, Jonathan Shaw MP, met with Shelter clients and advisors when he re-opened the charity's Housing Advice Centre in Chatham today.
The Minister met with local families who have experienced housing problems and Shelter staff who discussed the region's housing crisis and its impact on households throughout the South East.
Shelter hopes the visit will encourage Mr Shaw to champion the delivery of affordable homes across the region.
Nearly 7,000 homeless households are living in temporary accommodation in the South East. In Medway Towns alone, latest Government figures show there are more than 407 homeless households living in temporary accommodation, not to mention over 8,000 households on housing waiting lists.
In the South East, 7,100 affordable homes were built in 2006/07, about 30% below the target set out in the draft South East Plan.
Shelter is calling on those responsible for delivering affordable homes in the region, such as developers working with local authorities, to step up to the Government's challenge and ensure these affordable homes are built.
