Everyone accepts that we have a housing problem, one that is especially severe in the south of the country.

The causes are well known: shortage of supply, the reduction in social housing, the lack of truly affordable housing, high rents in the private sector and the high cost of land, especially land with planning consent.

This has resulted in a rise in rough sleepers, a record number of families in b&b accommodation, thousands of people on waiting lists for social housing and an increase in evictions from the private rented sector – with unaffordable rent increases and the cap on Housing Benefit, especially in London, mainly to blame.

An affordable roof over one’s head is a basic right in a civilised society and, as one of the more economically prosperous countries, it is shameful that successive governments have not really addressed the problem. In fact, they have made it worse …

Michael's article goes on to discuss the roots of the problem together with some possible solutions – including the need, perhaps, to 'think the unthinkable'…

Click here to read this thought-provoking piece in full.