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| 'Rampant' house market condemned | 'Rampant' house market condemned |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Steps must be taken to address a shortage of affordable homes in Wales, says the charity Shelter Cymru. | Steps must be taken to address a shortage of affordable homes in Wales, says the charity Shelter Cymru. |
| A "rampant housing market" and a lack of affordable and suitable housing were key factors in homelessness, a report by the charity has found. | A "rampant housing market" and a lack of affordable and suitable housing were key factors in homelessness, a report by the charity has found. |
| It wants the assembly government to build 3,500 affordable homes a year by 2011 to clear the "backlog of need". | It wants the assembly government to build 3,500 affordable homes a year by 2011 to clear the "backlog of need". |
| Housing Minister Andrew Davies said he was committed to spending £450m over four years on affordable homes. | Housing Minister Andrew Davies said he was committed to spending £450m over four years on affordable homes. |
| But according to the charity, building homes is not enough in itself, and people who want to get onto the first rung of the property ladder should also be helped. | But according to the charity, building homes is not enough in itself, and people who want to get onto the first rung of the property ladder should also be helped. |
| Among the recommendations of the report were for the Welsh Assembly Government to increase public investment in affordable housing, and to find new ways to bring in more private funding. | Among the recommendations of the report were for the Welsh Assembly Government to increase public investment in affordable housing, and to find new ways to bring in more private funding. |
| We are working with the UK government, we are working with local authorities and the private voluntary sector to address this issue Housing Minister Andrew Davies | |
| New low-cost home ownership initiatives and funds to tackle homelessness prevention work were also urged in the inquiry, to be launched at Shelter Cymru's annual conference in Swansea on Thursday. | New low-cost home ownership initiatives and funds to tackle homelessness prevention work were also urged in the inquiry, to be launched at Shelter Cymru's annual conference in Swansea on Thursday. |
| The year-long investigation into homelessness and poor housing in Wales took its eight-strong panel to six locations in Wales, where more than 160 people, including the homeless and those living in poor conditions, gave evidence. | The year-long investigation into homelessness and poor housing in Wales took its eight-strong panel to six locations in Wales, where more than 160 people, including the homeless and those living in poor conditions, gave evidence. |
| Shelter Cymru's director John Puzey, said the early indications were that the new assembly government was making housing a national priority. | Shelter Cymru's director John Puzey, said the early indications were that the new assembly government was making housing a national priority. |
| "It is our job to make sure it stays there," he said. | "It is our job to make sure it stays there," he said. |
| There are electrical, heating and damp issues in Mr White's home | There are electrical, heating and damp issues in Mr White's home |
| The Shelter Cymru report comes less than a week after two housing bodies warned of a 40,000 shortage of affordable homes in Wales. | The Shelter Cymru report comes less than a week after two housing bodies warned of a 40,000 shortage of affordable homes in Wales. |
| The Home Builders Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru said fewer new homes were being built in Wales than at any time since World War II. | The Home Builders Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru said fewer new homes were being built in Wales than at any time since World War II. |
| Mr Davies said affordable housing was one of the assembly government's most important priorities. | Mr Davies said affordable housing was one of the assembly government's most important priorities. |
| "We are working with the UK government, we are working with local authorities and the private voluntary sector to address this issue," he said. | "We are working with the UK government, we are working with local authorities and the private voluntary sector to address this issue," he said. |
| "Allowing first-time buyers onto the housing ladder is crucial for us. That is why we are looking to expand our Homebuy scheme." | "Allowing first-time buyers onto the housing ladder is crucial for us. That is why we are looking to expand our Homebuy scheme." |
| It puts a downer on your day. You walk into the bathroom and the damp patches and mould is all I see Dean White | It puts a downer on your day. You walk into the bathroom and the damp patches and mould is all I see Dean White |
| The shortage of affordable homes has affected Dean White, his partner and their five children who live in a three-bedroom council house in Llandysul in Ceredigion. | The shortage of affordable homes has affected Dean White, his partner and their five children who live in a three-bedroom council house in Llandysul in Ceredigion. |
| They said they could not afford to buy a bigger home of their own and have numerous problems with their property including heating issues, electrical problems and damp. | They said they could not afford to buy a bigger home of their own and have numerous problems with their property including heating issues, electrical problems and damp. |
| "There is just no room at all," he said. | "There is just no room at all," he said. |
| "The kids are always in each other's faces all the time because they have got no room for themselves. It causes arguments. | "The kids are always in each other's faces all the time because they have got no room for themselves. It causes arguments. |
| "It puts a downer on your day. You walk into the bathroom and the damp patches and mould is all I see. | "It puts a downer on your day. You walk into the bathroom and the damp patches and mould is all I see. |
| "If they (the council) could just repair it and put an extension on it, that would be enough, but at the moment I just want to get out of the house and to go somewhere else." | "If they (the council) could just repair it and put an extension on it, that would be enough, but at the moment I just want to get out of the house and to go somewhere else." |