Local People Urged to Sign Up to 'Wall of Shame'

6.58.07pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Jun 2007

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, has added his signature to Shelter's 'Wall of Shame' in Norwich, and is urging others to do the same to turn it into a 'Wall of Hope'.

"Britain is facing a housing crisis," said Simon Wright. "After 10 years of Labour Government, there is still a huge shortage of affordable housing. Far too many people, including families with young children, are living in temporary accommodation because nearly half a million council houses have been sold since Labour came to power. Very few social homes have been built to take their place. Here in Norwich, around 100 homeless households are living in temporary accommodation. It's a scandal."

"Shelter are calling on the Government to fund and extra 20,000 social homes on top of existing plans to sort out this crisis. They have built a wall outside the Forum in Norwich, and are asking people to add their name to a brick to help get the Government's attention."

"The right to housing is a fundamental entitlement."

Note: The Wall of Shame will be outside the Forum until the end of Saturday, 10am to 6pm. Anyone unable to visit can also register their signature online at http://www.wallofshame.org.uk/

The Department for Communities and Local Government statistics for the last quarter of 2006 states that there were 101 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in Norwich.