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Meeting housing need:
building Britain out of recession
Decent affordable housing is central to people’s welfare and the country’s economic efficiency.
The economic recession has made this even more apparent.
Recent announcements by the Government, including measures in the 2009 Budget, indicate
a turning of the tide on housing policy, not least in respect of the important role of social
housing, including council housing. The focus must now be on the delivery of rapid and
substantial action. There is a need to move further and faster.
Unite is uniquely placed in this arena as a trade union with members working in a range of
sectors involved in housing. In addition, Unite members are also affected by housing policy
as actual and potential home owners, mortgage holders and tenants.
Introduction page 3
Housing and the recession page 4
Why Government should act page 6
Why housing matters page 7
Further and faster page 10
Introduction
Unite is the UK’s biggest trade union, and the only union to represent members across the
whole of the housing agenda.
Unite represents members who work in:
• local government, where members maintain and repair council housing and estates;
• the not-for-profit sector where members work for Registered Social Landlords, and in
particular supported housing where Unite members work with some of the most vulnera-
ble people in society, and in housing advice and support services;
• the construction industry – in both building and the manufacturing supply chain - which
has been badly hit by the economic downturn; and
• the finance sector, where members are increasingly working with homeowners at risk of,
or concerned about, repossession.
In addition to the skills and knowledge of these members, Unite – alongside all those in the
trade union movement - campaigns on behalf of all its members for people to be able to
access high quality affordable and social housing, including council housing.
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