Affordable housing. Some facts:

· Even before the pandemic, young adults were experiencing a significant fall in home ownership (Affordable Housing Commission, 2020), with many having to rely on the private rented sector which is often expensive and insecure (Wood & Clarke, 2018).

· For young buyers that cannot draw on financial support from friends and family, it can be difficult to amass enough money for a housing deposit.

· The share of families with children in the private rented sector has nearly tripled since the 1990s, whilst a typical young family would now take 22 years to save for a deposit (Judge & Pacitti, 2021).

· Young people’s ability to get onto the property ladder is greatly shaped by their parents’ personal wealth. At the age of 30 people without parental property wealth are approximately 60% less likely to be homeowners. (Wood & Clarke 2018).

· But what is the impact of a lack of affordable housing? Housing unaffordability is often at the root of poverty, homelessness, debt, family breakdown, mental and physical poor health (Affordable Housing Commission 2020).

· In Aylesbury Vale, house prices are a whopping 10-11 times average earnings.

So what are we at Youth Concern doing about all this? Aside from housing previously homeless 18-25 year olds, and helping them learn how to live independently, we were asked by the Rothschild Foundation to get involved in their research into this subject. We’re delighted to be asked, knowing our involvement will help the voices of vulnerable young people be heard.

The Rothschild Foundation’s researchers will be visiting our Drop-in Centre on Monday 26 July, 2-4pm. If you’d like to come and take part, are 25 or younger and have an opinion about access to affordable local housing, we’d love you to join us!

Tell us if you’d like to come by phone (01296 431183), email (admin@youthconcern.org.uk), WhatsApp or text (07470 833500), or let us know next time you’re in.

Alternatively you could complete this short questionnaire here.

Read the interim summary report here Interim report – summary version final or the interim full report here Interim report final.