Letter: Evil waste of homes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The Director of Shelter, Chris Holmes, rightly sees investment in new homes (Right of Reply, 18 November) as the primary tool to work on the homelessness scandal.
However, the London Borough of Camden has 470 empty flats of varying sizes, and the practice of owning empty property is rewarded by giving council tax concessions. The chair of the council's Housing Committee, Cllr Brian Weekes, told me recently that this is a necessary pool to facilitate council flat movements of 40 per week.
The wretched evil of homelessness will only begin to be solved when this nonsensical wastage is seen to be as socially unacceptable as drunken driving.
PETER RUTHERFORD
London NW6
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments