Housing crisis 'robbing children's childhoods'

Oxford is fifth in the ranking of UK councils with the longest waiting times for social housing

Children are being "robbed of their childhoods" as people wait an average of 5.2 years for social housing in Oxford, a homelessness charity has said.

Oxford City Council is fifth in the ranking of UK councils with the longest waiting times -more than two years above the national average, with 3,443 people on the waiting list.

Crisis Skylight Oxford said it had about 20 new people registering for support each week.

Linda Smith, cabinet member for housing and communities, said the authority was doing what it could to ease the housing crisis, with funding set out for 1,600 new council houses.

The city council's allocation scheme for council housing is based on how much people need a new home, rather than how long they have been on the register.

Ms Smith said: "In recent years the cost of living, record private rent rises and the delay in delivering a 'no fault' eviction ban, first promised in 2019, have fuelled a sharp rise in homelessness across the country. Oxford is no exception.

"Together with a longstanding affordability crisis, this means most people wait years for general needs council housing and there is no guarantee of a council home however long you spend on the list."

She added: "Since the relaxation of government borrowing restrictions in 2018, we have built hundreds of new council homes.

"Our budget for 2025/26 includes funding for a further 1,600 council homes in the next eight years.

"We know this won't be enough to meet need but as the only council in Oxfordshire building new council homes, we know every single one can make a life-changing difference."

'Cramped conditions'

Kate Cocker, director at Crisis Skylight Oxford, said: "No one should have to live without a secure roof over their heads.

"But this is the reality for so many in Oxford, exacerbated by the rising cost of living and lack of social housing in the area.

"Families are spending far too long in unsuitable, temporary accommodation.

"Children are being robbed of their childhoods, celebrating birthday after birthday in damp, cramped conditions."

She said ministers "must commit to a substantial funding increase for social housing in the upcoming spending review and more support for councils who are increasingly overwhelmed with demand".

The data on waiting times was gathered from a Freedom of Information request sent to 387 UK councils by the Alan Boswell Group, unoccupied house insurance experts.

Greater London came top with a 6.6-year average waiting time. The average is 2.9 years.