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Social housing must act as a springboard, not just a safety net, new Housing Minister Caroline Flint told a Fabian conference in her first major speech in the role.
Flint floated the idea that new tenants who can work could sign commitment contracts when getting a tenancy, agreeing to actively seek work, as part of a package of measures to break the link between social housing and worklessness.
'There are also many who are currently unemployed who could find work with the right training and support', she said.
Flint argued that housing policy needs 'urgent attention and swift action', and that she wanted to begin a 'national debate about the role of social housing in the twenty-first century', Stressing that she was 'asking more questions than offering answers', she acknowledged that her ideas could be 'provocative' but that radical thinking was needed to break the link between social housing and worklessness.
Adam Sampson, Director of Shelter, speaking at the Fabian conference, said that the speech had brought into the open a debate about conditionality which had previously been 'whispered about'. But what was needed was more support to find work, not the fear of losing a home.
Flint's controverial speech kicked off the day's proceedings. Other sessions addressed how the UK could create more affordable homes, and the role of housing policy in narrowing inequalities.
Speakers leading these sessions included Nick Raynsford MP, Karen Buck MP, Kate Davies (Notting Hill Housing Group), Adam Sampson (Shelter).
For full speech, click here
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