Page 11 - OCF Oxfordshire Uncovered

ANALYSIS
Housing is a clear demonstration of the inequalities in Oxfordshire. Some can afford to live in the county’s beautiful country and town houses; but a larger number have to spend a disproportionate amount of their income on housing, or live in unsuitable dwellings – to the extent that their quality of life, health and wellbeing are adversely affected.
The demographic demands contributing to the issue of housing availability include:
• A longer life expectancy
• More people coming to Oxfordshire to work in the
‘knowledge spine’ of technology and research companies
• Divorce, separation and family breakdown
• An increase in young people wanting to live alone for longer
• Population increases as a result of immigration.
Additionally, in cities like Oxford there is a severe scarcity of land to build on, and a green belt that restricts expansion. This suggests that the housing crisis is likely to be with us for some time.
Oxfordshire is an area of England in which the housing crisis is at its most acute. This is demonstrated by the IMD’s ‘Barriers to Housing and Services’ domain, which shows that more than half of Oxfordshire’s neighbourhoods are in the most deprived half of England.
Compared to the IMD map showing aggregate levels of deprivation across all domains, the map opposite makes it clear that the housing crisis really is a headline issue for Oxfordshire.
So what impact does this have on our communities and the people within them?
Homelessness is the most obvious outcome of Oxfordshire’s housing crisis. However, lack of affordable housing affects almost everyone – whether they are a young couple trying to get onto the property ladder, or a business owner trying to attract staff. When the demand for housing outstrips the stock available, people resort to living in sub-standard or overcrowded housing, or are driven away from the areas where they have roots and support networks.
“Private landlords can obtain signi cantly higher rents from those earning more money or students, and we have signi cant pressures on council housing.”
Mike Rowley, Executive board member for housing, Oxford City Council
The housing problem has many knock-on effects, which we see daily: absolute poverty, physical and mental health problems, substance abuse, educational underachievement, unemployment and crime. For this reason, we see this as a signi cant threat to the wellbeing of Oxfordshire, and one that needs to be prioritised.
Barriers to Housing and Services
Deprivation decile: 1=within the most deprived 10% in England, decile 10=least deprived 10%. England average is between deciles 5 & 6.
40
20 0
Housing and homelessness
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
Number of LSOAs
9