DHA’s Post

🏘️🧰 There are many tools in the proverbial affordable housing toolkit and the Housing Choice Voucher program is one such tool that is essential to ending homelessness. Lower-income families, young adults who have aged out of foster care, Veterans and disabled persons, all of whom are especially vulnerable to housing instability or homelessness, have benefitted greatly from this half-century old program. Here’s to continued investments in housing choice 🏘️🏢🏘️🏢 #housingchoice #housinginvestment #50thanniversary #endhomelessness

It was a pleasure to speak at the British Property Federation National Living Sectors Summit today and to discuss the BPF's manifesto for unlocking investment into housing "Building for Generations" Pension funds offer a key source of new capital for delivering all tenures of housing- including genuinely affordable social homes, and the next Government can create an environment that unlocks that capital to deliver a step change in housing supply. My asks from an affordable housing perspective - Affordable Housing needs subsidy - there is no escaping that fact - but targeted spend can reduce government spending in the longer term (not least in reducing the cost of temporary accommodation) - A long term rent settlement for affordable housing providers would engender investor confidence and reduce the cost of capital (so delivering more homes) - Creating a level playing field for For Profit Registered Providers. Because institutional investors do not enjoy the same tax and grant regime as housing associations, the cost of delivering affordable housing is higher. Small changes to policy would allow investors to deliver more and would unlock greater collaboration between investors and the housing association sector. Thank you to my brilliant fellow panelists Rebecca Taylor Michael Toft and Ian Fletcher (a brilliant super sub!!), to Eleanor Murray for chairing the session so well and to Kurt Mueller for moderating the morning session (and to Nikita Asher for the pic!!)

From our public roads and highways to our NHS, cleansing, schools and colleges, universities, apprenticeships, trains and buses, social care, social work, community safety, business support, community development – those essential public goods that we all rely on, all seem to be cut off from that wealth too. We can see the effects in towns, villages and cities across the length and breadth of Scotland, from weakened council services to the rise in community foodbanks. That’s bad for all of us. But it’s a disaster for people on the lowest incomes, because those public goods are often a vital lifeline in difficult times, and a platform that people can use to build for the future. Without them people are trapped. It’s also bad for business. They rely on roads to get goods to and from markets. They need public transport to get their workers in on time. They rely on the next generation of workers being educated and skilled. When a worker is sick, they rely on the NHS to get them well enough to return to work. They often rely on public grants and loans, and public support with paying their rates. In a myriad of ways, the public good is the bedrock of private enterprise. https://lnkd.in/eewPPech

I was brought up in a new town 30 miles from London my city of birth. the housing corporations set up under Conservative governments in the 1950's achieved housing numbers that were to die for at today's housing numbers, but as an elected Councillor I saw the problem of housing delivery from both sides, if you had to design a system of housing delivery, you would not create what we have now, and all this centralised intervention from Whitehall just adds to layers of red tape and bureaucratic s*** one simple solution I believe would be for LPA/ councils to be able to develop the sites with roads, sewage and general infrastructure before developers took over to actually build and connect the houses, things like transport systems, stations, schools and all the paraphernalia could be planned and integrated to sites. this would take public money to front load development which could be recovered once sales start or RSL,s take over. maybe it's a simplistic approach, but we need a proper restart, not more of the same s***

So how can we unlock the potential of Scotland’s collective wealth? One vital way is using fair taxes that can support better budgets, so that we can build a better future. We often hear that Scotland is in a ‘challenging fiscal position’ and that we face ‘difficult choices’. There’s no reason for that to be the case – just think of the balloon the size of a space hopper. We are carrying around massive wealth in this country - it’s just a question of using it to support the common good. The public goods we have today only exist because past generations planned and budgeted for them. We all have a responsibility to make sure that we raise the revenue we need today to build budgets for a better tomorrow. Those with the biggest responsibility are our political leaders. The Poverty Alliance and others have repeatedly called on members of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers to meet that responsibility; to use their powers over tax and investment to unlock our country’s wealth for our collective good; to build budgets that give people the means to build a better future; to create a true wellbeing economy that supports fair work and a just transition to the net zero future that we urgently need. . Organisations like the STUC and IPPR Scotland have come up with concrete plans to raise the revenue we need from our country’s wealth of resources. They have clearly demonstrated that our political leaders have the tools they need to meet their responsibility to our collective wellbeing as a nation. So the next time you get angry about holes in the road, or about teachers being made redundant; about modern apprenticeships being put on hold, or about the ongoing injustice of poverty in wealthy Scotland; about the too-slow transition to a green economy, or the rise in food banks; about poor bus services, or lack of support for children with additional support needs: about low pay for workers, or cuts to our NHS – please remember the big balloon, and that we have a way to move forward: Fair taxes build better budgets, and better budgets build a better future. https://lnkd.in/eewPPech

As a Fellow of the Housing & Finance Institute (HFI), I’m closely watching the new government’s first Budget, which could address some of the critical housing challenges we face today. This budget could be a turning point for housing in the UK and could make a real impact on housing projects, community plans and people's lives. HFI has highlighted six key areas that could shape the future of housing delivery in the UK: 🔑 1. Long-Term Social Housing Rent Settlement The government is expected to offer councils and housing associations a long-term rent settlement, with inflation-capped increases (CPI +1%) over the next decade. This would provide the stability needed for greater investment in affordable housing. 🔑 2. Support for Temporary Housing & Council Budgets With councils spending over £1.75 billion on temporary accommodation, this Budget could help bridge the gap between Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and the real cost of housing, easing both homelessness and budget pressures. 🔑 3. Affordable Housing Investment Although the affordable housing programme runs until 2026, there’s hope for additional investment to boost output. Reforms that unlock private finance and streamline delivery could be transformative. 🔑 4. Green Finance & Housing Upgrades Decarbonising social housing is estimated to cost £3.5 billion per year. This Budget could leverage green finance to help upgrade housing stock, improving both environmental impact and quality of life. 🔑 5. Homeownership Reforms With homeownership becoming more difficult, particularly for younger people, the Budget may introduce reforms to Right to Buy and mortgage support schemes, making homeownership more accessible. 🔑 6. Skills & Apprenticeships for Housing To meet the demand for housing, we need more skilled professionals, especially in planning. Look out for potential investments in skills and apprenticeships that could help fill this gap. If you’d like to explore how these developments might impact your housing projects or community plans, connect with me at Inclusive Growth Consultancy or reach out to the HFI. Together, we can build sustainable, inclusive communities. #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #SocialHousing #GreenFinance #Decarbonisation #Homeownership #UKBudget #HousingPolicy #InclusiveGrowth #SustainableCommunities #PlanningAndDevelopment #ConstructionSkills #HFI #LocalGovernment

Pensioners in Hull are being urged to check what financial help they may be able to access, including Pension Credit. The Government is planning changes to the Winter Fuel Payment scheme, meaning those above state pension age wouldn’t automatically qualify for help with their heating bills. Eligibility will now be restricted to those on Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits. The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, said: “We know the cost of living has hit pensioners in Hull hard and with energy bills planned to rise again this winter will be difficult for many people. “As a Council, we are keen to support pensioners as much as we can. “Given the Government’s changes to Winter Fuel Payments, I would urge anyone who is eligible for Pension Credit to sign up. “There is a range of support available to provide help during the colder months, including warm spaces in our communities. “But it is also important that our older people can access all the help they are eligible for, and we know there could be many who are not receiving Pension Credit when they are entitled to it.” Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. Residents who receive Pension Credit may also be eligible for a range of other benefits, such as help with housing costs, council tax, and heating bills. Additionally, those aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit qualify for a free TV Licence. The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that up to 850,000 pensioner households across the country may be eligible for Pension Credit but do not claim it. It says that “some pensioners think because they’ve got savings or own their home they would not get any Pension Credit.” It also says that other barriers where pensioners may wrongly think they are not eligible include: -They may be working -They may be getting a small occupational pension -They may have been turned down in the past You can use the Pension Credit Calculator to find out how much Pension Credit you or a loved one may be entitled to: https://lnkd.in/epxMBkjF More information is also available via The Pension Service, on 0800 99 1234. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eB_s9wdj For more help with the cost of living, visit https://lnkd.in/eUzBaHbV For more information on available benefits, visit https://lnkd.in/e2AFiSjZ https://lnkd.in/eh4exRgn? ( text copied from Hull City Council Facebook )

Good news, my proposal has passed 20:1 by the Governing Body setting the council's ten-year vision for Auckland, and there's a lot in it for you. This Long-term Plan has been based on identifying the problems and looking at the solutions to fix Auckland. The biggest of which has been getting our books in order and stopping the overspend, making the most of what we have, and strengthening the physical and financial resilience of our future Auckland. We set out to do things differently this time by getting councillors to set the direction over the past ten months through working groups on topics such as investments, revenue, and Māori outcomes. My proposal has evolved since the first draft was tabled in December, and that’s not a bad thing. It's got better. My priority is, and always has been, to get better value and returns from our strategic assets and to strengthen the council’s long-term financial position so we can continue to provide services without burdening ratepayers. It’s critical that we arrive at the destination, but how we get there is up for debate. I’d like to thank councillors, local boards, and Houkura for their contributions. Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan (10-year budget) 2024–34 will be finalised and adopted by the end of June 2024. This will include key features of today’s mayoral proposal: The lowest rates possible: · The lowest rates increase of any metropolitan council in New Zealand, half the national average and lower than what was consulted on. 6.8% in FY25, 5.8% in FY26, and 7.9% in FY27. And, beyond that, an average rates increase of no more than 3.5% for the rest of the Long-term Plan (2024–34). · A more efficient council focused on value for money, with $142 million in savings to be found over three years. Auckland Future Fund: · A $1.3 billion regional wealth fund for future generations. · Ratepayers are $40 million better off each year and less exposed to the risks of one-off events. · Strict protections against raids. Boosted public transport package: · $50 weekly cap on public transport fares for buses, trains, and inner harbour ferries. · $14 billion to fix roads and make public transport better, faster, and cheaper. · $70 million to maintain bus services and rail track maintenance. · Installation of safety screens to protect bus drivers. https://lnkd.in/gE5-bcq7

💷 BUDGET REACTION   As the most important fiscal event of the past decade, there is a huge amount for our industry to reflect on from yesterday’s Budget.  While there was additional money for social care and affordable housing, we still await a much-needed strategy to address the root causes of the care crisis. Our CEO Findlay MacAlpine told Place Yorkshire that “the connection between housing, health, and care remains largely unaddressed” and this comes as data from the Care Quality Commission shows the North East and Yorkshire had the highest proportion of delayed discharges due to waiting for home-based care. Our new development at Hunslet Moor House in Leeds will help address this – but we need further investment in affordable extra care developments right across the country. Housing, health and care needs have to be considered together. The new government's 'mission led' approach provides a chance to cut across departments and do exactly this.  Building more extra care housing can free up housing supply in the wider market, save money for the NHS and local authorities, and – most importantly – help older people to live well.  https://lnkd.in/eJpDWVeq

BACK FAMILY BUSINESS CAMPAIGN. One element of this weeks budget was the change to Business Property Relief. The exchequer, without consideration has delivered a potential hammer blow for 4.8 million family owned businesses. This is not about farmers and fields. In support of our partnership with Family Business UK I am calling on anyone in my network connected in anyway with this £1.7tn UK industry to act in support of the campaign to BACK FAMILY BUSINESS. If you follow this link, you will find all the assets you require to get behind this industry. https://lnkd.in/gu24hnca In the UK, 90% of all private firms are family businesses. Family businesses contribute over £200 billion to the UK Exchequer through tax receipts alone, which is over a quarter (26%) of the government’s total receipts. Business Property Relief (BPR) & Gift Holdover Relief (GHR) A supportive policy environment is crucial if family businesses are to compete and thrive. These two reliefs underpin the family business model incentivising families to innovate, invest in the business, and in skills and jobs. Removing these policies would result in family businesses potentially having to withhold investment, divest parts of their business or – in a worst-case scenario – close shop entirely. and potentially catastrophic for small, first-generation companies. @FBUK #backfamilybusinesses https://lnkd.in/gu24hnca