THE HCA MUST SURVIVE

摘要

We're living in anxious times. And if you're in the social housing world, it's as nerve-jangling as it gets. Budgets are being cut, developments are on hold and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has committed ￡610m that it now finds that it doesn't have (see page 11)-although the chancellor may yet, by some miracle, find something in next month's Budget. As it is, it looks like any housing association thinking of submitting a grant application this financial year can more or less forget it. George Osborne did announce a surprise ￡170m to build 4,000 affordable homes - which most people assumed was a sop to the Lib Dems' social conscience. In fact, the aim was to reduce the HCA funding gap to "only" ￡610m.rnThe reality is that there is no cash in this year's budget that hasn't been earmarked. All the money's gone and the future of the HCA itself is in question.