The Lib Dems recognise the need for more council/social housing for families, but little is done about the many young people who are forced to live with their parents until well into their 30s. There is inadequate provision of suitable affordable accommodation, either to rent or buy, for young people with limited resources, particularly when they have first left care, school, college, university or the armed forces.

Single people do not get priority for social housing, and can remain on councils’ Band 5 waiting lists for years, limiting their opportunities and social mobility to move where the jobs might be. Young people want to be independent, but these days most parents cannot afford to help them through the ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ particularly if parents have several children in need of support. Young people left to their own devices and trying to manage on their own, often suffer from acute loneliness, depression and other relationship issues.

For homeless young people, the problem is even worse. Even if accommodation was to be found in a hostel of some kind, these stays are usually temporary. Residents are expected to move out or move on after a fairly short period of time. The gap between the charitable accommodation of this kind and the commercial housing market is so large, and increasing year on year, that the most disadvantaged often end up back on the streets again because councils no longer have the resources to provide suitable long-term accommodation. For young people in employment, rocketing private rents and no-fault evictions are generating a great deal of insecurity, which the government has yet to control.

Just as children need a good start in life from an early age, long before starting school (bemoan the loss of Sure-Start), so young adults need to have a real chance to gain their independence and get established in a supportive environment. This gives them, or gives them back, their self-esteem, helps them with their careers and personal relationships. Those who go to university enjoy the facilities provided by communal living while there, and the opportunity to make friends and take part in various cultural and sporting activities. Young people who join the armed forces enjoy a similar camaraderie, which they miss when returning to civilian life. This can create difficulties while adapting to their new role.

Part of the solution is to provide purpose-built low-cost communal housing near the centre of towns and cities, with access to nearby local services and public transport links. This type of accommodation would meet the needs of young single people between the ages of 16 and 25, whether working or unemployed, at a rate that comes within standard benefits, or payment for those on government training schemes. Older people, up to 30 could be considered, depending on the availability of space.. The mixed tenure would allow a new start for homeless people, whose numbers are increasing annually.

To keep it simple and viable, an appropriate size for a rectangular building would be 34.5 metres long and 9.5 metres wide, with six floors giving a height of around 15.5 metres. The land would be leased from the local council at a peppercorn rent. There would be rooms for 80 people on five floors, with 16 rooms on each floor, 8 each side of a central corridor. The ground floor would provide communal facilities, a large canteen, kitchen, and three separate common rooms for TV, computing and games. Ideally, single blocks should be built on a north-south axis, so that all the rooms face east or west, getting the benefit of sunlight in the morning or afternoon. Each room would be 3.6m square with an en-suite on the outside wall, with toilet, shower and wash basin with push-to-operate taps on each.

Half-board would be mandatory, with breakfast and evening meal provided in the canteen. This would be charged for, whether taken or not. The residents would be responsible for providing their own midday meals, drinks and snacks. Residents could apply to be part of the kitchen staff and cleaning staff, providing jobs to those who had been unemployed. Basic City and Guilds qualifications (7100 and 7139) would be needed for these positions.

This proposal would empower people to work as a community, whatever their individual circumstances. The day-to-day administration would be done by a management committee of residents, to encourage responsibility and a sense of belonging. The committee would have five members, each elected or selected by the 16 people on each floor, led by an externally (council?) appointed chairman with overall responsibility. The committee would serve for a year, before being chosen (or not) the following year. Residents could decide the type and frequency of social activities in the hostel and would be expected to take part in them, to provide some fun and social interaction. Social events would be organised by the committee. A nominal charge would cover the cost of hiring people and equipment to provide any entertainment. Required daytime training courses could be run on weekdays.

Because services are provided – food, cleaning and laundry, residents would not have security of tenure. Anti-social behaviour would not be tolerated. Persistent troublemakers would be required to leave the hostel, which wouldn’t be suitable for those with addictions.  Opportunities like this are not currently available, but it would provide young people with affordable communal living at the start of their working life or beyond. People could leave when they felt able to manage on their own (or with partners), but the current gap today between home and the commercial market is financially prohibitive, particularly in London and other major centres where these hostels would be needed.

* David Murray is a long-time activist. He joined Liberal Party in 1966 and was elected to Cambridge City Council in 1970. When he moved to Shropshire he was elected to Bridgnorth District Council 2003 -2009 as well as 5 Town & Parish councils. Has held most positions in Lib/Lib Dem local parties, has twice been Policy Chair of the West Midlands Region, and is a member of ALTER.