Liberal Democrats are calling for councils to be able to borrow money to invest in smaller and affordable homes to deal with the “urgent” need within Devon, says a South Hams representative.

Caroline Voaden, a South Hams member and former parliamentary candidate for the South West Devon constituency has spoken out for this plea.

“We urgently need councils to be allowed to borrow to invest in small, affordable homes that will help to address the urgent housing needs of our communities” said Caroline.

“Homelessness is not a lifestyle choice-it is a tragedy. People are now paying up to 60% of their income on housing and it’s clear those on average earnings can’t afford private rents in many parts of our region,” Caroline told the recent Liberal Democrat Regional Conference in Exeter.

The increasing high rental costs are pushing “more and more families into poverty” which has a “devastating knock-on effect” on children. The effects can impact a child’s lifelong health and educational achievement.

The housing motion proposed by the South Hams Liberal Democrat party was passed at the conference with no opposition, attended by delegates from the South West and Western Counties regions.

Devon, Cornwall and Western Counties Liberal Democrats have called on Liberal Democrat MPs to lobby the government to suspend the right to buy legislation for at least five years, in order to retain as much social housing as possible.

Additionally, they have called on the government to allow local authorities to borrow money to then invest in social housing, something they are currently not allowed to do.

Over 17,000 households are in housing need in Devon and the greatest need across all local authority areas in Devon remains for one-bedroom properties. On average, 62 people now bid for every one-bedroom home that is released onto the market.

Caroline said the government “have a duty” to provide safe, secure and suitable temporary accommodation. We say they need to have the ability to borrow the money needed to invest in suitable accommodation.”

National Housing charity, Shelter has launched an urgent Christmas appeal, estimating that 140 families become homeless every day. The charity says that the biggest cause of homelessness is the end of private tenancy agreements, a continued lowering of benefit gaps, the introduction of universal credit and the bedroom tax.

In their recent budget, the Conservative government pledged to help first time buyers by raising the stamp duty threshold to £300,000.

Shelter has highlighted that this does nothing for those in dire need who are struggling to afford a roof over their heads, such as families of four or five living in one-room temporary accommodation for months.

Caroline has highlighted that the Devon countryside is being eaten up by new build developments for three or four bedroom homes and asks “where are the one and two bedroom flats?”

She has questioned where the accommodation is for single people, young people or older people who want somewhere safe and warm to live.

“We have got to change our housing priorities to help those who are most in need and quickly building new affordable housing will help alleviate the problem,” said Caroline.