• emh group join Leicester rally to support national Homes for Britain campaign

emh group join Leicester rally to support national Homes for Britain campaign

"We cannot let our future generations down."

Colin Norman, emh homes tenant and Board member

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The biggest housing rally in a generation is part of a national campaign calling to an end to the housing crisis within a generation. It aims to highlight the lack of affordable housing in Britain and the issues faced by people who cannot afford to rent or buy properties because of a lack of available homes.

Across the East Midlands, up to 10 housing associations and housing-related organisations have been adding their voice to the national campaign through a series of events taking place at six different locations.

Click here for more information on the campaign.

The East Midlands Rally relay, which ran from Ripley in Derbyshire to Daventry in Northamptonshire, was devised by Lindsey Williams, Chief Executive of Futures Housing Group, who said: “The housing crisis has a wide-reaching impact right across the country. A shortage of housing threatens the potential growth and development of local communities and economies. As East Midlands-based housing providers, we are well aware of the challenges that exist in our region alone.”

The De Montfort University (DMU) campus was the venue for the Leicester leg, which saw a giant key, symbolising the campaign, handed over.

Professor Jo Richardson, Director of the Centre for Comparative Housing Research at DMU, said: “Good quality, affordable homes are important not only for the economy but for our health and wellbeing. We are losing social housing stock. Homes which were sold through Right to Buy have not been replaced.”

Colin Norman, emh homes tenant and Board member, gave the key speech at the DMU event.

Colin said: “Many people in the East Midlands, including our own children and grandchildren, are finding it difficult to find a home of their own. Our homes are at the heart of our lives – they are the centre of our social networks, secure our place in the local community, and create a sense of well-being within ourselves. But unless we do something about the housing crisis now, future generations will struggle to achieve this same sense of belonging.

“That is why it is so important that we create a bigger united voice to ensure that all policy makers and leaders hear our pleas for more homes for the future.

“We cannot let our future generations down.”