“Unsurprisingly, the number of people coming to us reporting problems with ‘Access to affordable housing’ was high and shows no signs of lessening anytime soon,” said the Interim CEO of CAB, Annie Ashmead.

“Our Research & Campaigns team have already started analysing the data as this is a Social Policy issue that is a serious problem and needs addressing at the earliest opportunity.” 

The data collated by CAB confirms other sources which have also reported an increase in people needing access to housing - affordable or otherwise.

Pictured: It was a priority then, and housing needs remain a priority now.

Just under a year ago, the Policy and Resources Committee told the States they "must tackle" housing needs in the island and the increasing cost of living experienced across all income levels in the island, which disproportionately affects those on lower incomes who are still hamstrung by expensive housing.

The draft Government Work Plan was published in May 2022, but it is currently under review with a debate in July set to reassign priorities following the States decision to not adopt P&R's Tax Review proposals.

This week, the States debated the island's Strategic Housing Indicator.

It called for 1,565 new units of accommodation to be built between 2023 and 2027, with around 721 to be classed as 'affordable housing'.

Pictured: CAB released data showing the number of calls it received on a variety of topics last year.

CAB's figures show it received more requests for help around 'access to affordable housing' than any other topic over the last four years.

The rise in calls coincided with the continued rise in house purchase and rental prices.

House purchase prices rose above £600,000 for an average local market property last year, which was 15.9% higher than the same time in the previous year.

Rental prices rose 10% in the same period, with an average letting rate of £1,800 at the end of last year with demand outstripping supply in some price bands. 

With nearly 4,000 client contacts in 2022, which included around 2,500 new users, representing a significant proportion of the island’s 27,000 households,

Mrs Ashmead said the number of calls received last year - nearly 4,000, including around 2,500 new users - means CAB expects demands for its services to "continue to increase, especially as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis has deepened".

Pictured: Employment issues are one area CAB can help people with.

Aside from housing, CAB was asked for help with managing debts and relationships among other stressful issues.

The CAB team have published reports focusing on the demand for help with employment contracts and consumer issues, and another on domestic abuse and discrimination are being written.

Mrs Ashmead said they'll then concentrate on other social policy areas of concern.