Oxford is one of the least affordable places to buy a house in the UK. Rent levels are so high that renting on the private market is out of reach for many people. Many people working in Oxford city (including those working at the University) cannot afford to live here. A number of employers in the public service sector struggle to retain staff, such as schools and hospitals.

Insecure and expensive private renting has contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of people who are sleeping rough on the street. Up to 100 people are estimated to be sleeping rough on our streets, and in the past five years, 33 homeless people have died. Oxford has the second highest level of homeless deaths anywhere in the country.

Join our expert panel to discuss the causes of Oxford’s housing and homeless crisis, the efficacy of actions that are being taken, and steps that the University, employers and individuals can take to address it.

Chair: Emily Jones, Associate Professor in Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government

Speakers:

Peter Kemp, Professor of Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government
Paul Roberts, CEO, Aspire Oxford
Shaista Aziz, Oxford City Councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley
Elizabeth Garratt, Lecturer in Quantitative Methods, University of Sheffield and Principal Investigator of a project on homelessness in Oxford
Claire Dowan, CEO, Homeless Oxfordshire

This event is part of the Blavatnik School in Oxford City initiative which aims to connect the work of the Blavatnik School of Government with ongoing public policy initiatives in the city of Oxford.