NEW year, new crisis… or just all the crises reaching a tipping point. Have we reached the tipping point of the housing crisis in Frome? If we have, we need to come together and take action to solve some of the problems that contribute to this unworkable situation. The answer lies in community strength.
The same tired thinking that the market will solve the problem has surely run its course now and proven that no matter how much we leave it to the big housing developers, they can’t house the people who need homes the most.
The cost-of-living crisis will inevitably drive more need for genuinely affordable housing and the house building companies are focused on larger properties to keep their profits high. Research in Frome by Fair Housing for Frome and local councils reflects the national picture that the demand for one- and two-bedroom homes is the highest.
Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT) has a different approach. The trust is looking for land to develop small groups of houses that answer the needs of local people and stay in the hands of the community.
Tim Cutting, one of the directors of FACLT spoke about the need to break away from standard housing development which is not meeting demand.
He said “We want to create small, well-designed developments that make people say ‘Yes, in my back yard!’ because they are built for the future of Frome, not the profits of corporations.”
As land is so difficult to find in Frome, FACLT knows that it will only succeed if there is community-wide support for a people led approach, so it is calling on more Frome residents to join the organisation for just £1. More members means greater power to FACLT’s alternative home building solutions and eventually, community-owned housing.
Even without becoming a member, there are other ways to support creating the right homes in Frome.
Tim said, “The key to making this work effectively is everyone in the community recognising that there is a housing problem that can’t be solved under our current system. The local councils must help spread this message by declaring a housing crisis as other local authorities have done. This will put housing at the top of the agenda and hopefully lead to a community-based solution to our local housing crisis.”
FACLT members would also like to invite local groups who are working against poverty, for the community or have a housing interest to come and meet with them. They hope to encourage groups to pool their ideas and add weight to finding a solution for Frome residents and future generations.
FACLT is a community group for people with a local connection to Frome who want to help develop houses which are affordable in perpetuity for those in housing need.
To join FACLT or to find out more about their plans, go to https://fromearea clt.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
