HOUSING associations in the area are calling for drastic action to ease the housing crisis in St Helens with house prices nearly six times the average income.

The Star reported in March when housing organisations travelled down to London as part of a high-profile Homes For Britain rally which saw a 2,500-strong crowd of activists voice protests over a perceived shortage of affordable housing.

According to the National Housing Federation’s North West Broken Market Broken Dreams report, house prices in St Helens are nearly six times the average income. And the average salary of £22,168 falls short of the £29,074 required for an 80 per cent mortgage in the town.

The North West has the highest number of long-term empty homes in the country and St Helens alone has over 1,000 homes lying empty.

Riverside, which owns more than 1,250 homes in St Helens has brought its ‘Own Place’ scheme to the borough, selling houses from £39,375 – more than a third less than the average house cost in St Helens of £127,197.

Ian Gregg, director of asset management at Riverside, said: “A shortage of affordable homes is pushing house prices and private rents out of reach for the average person in St Helens. This combined with low wage growth makes it ever more difficult to save for a deposit.”

Helena Partnerships, who took six customers down with them to take part at the London protest, has also voiced urgent concerns.

“With a growing population and a shortage of homes, through lack of government investment, the housing crisis has been coming for a long time,” said a Helena statement.

"The run up to the election was the perfect time to highlight the issue and to urge politicians and parliamentary candidates to put housing on the agenda and commit to ending the housing crisis within a generation.

“The lack of new homes, a failure to balance supply with demand, pushes up prices and leaves many people unable to own or privately rent a home.

“In fact, in St Helens more than 13 per cent of working people are forced to claim housing benefit to help pay their rent. That’s government money going straight into the pockets of private landlords in many cases.

“Housing of all types but particularly genuinely affordable housing needs to be built now. Without it, those most in need, the low paid, the vulnerable and the elderly could be left out in the cold.

“Average salaries in our area fall way short of average house prices.

“The average private rent in 2013 to 2014 was £424. Affordable rents at Helena Homes start at just £325 a month. The more affordable homes we build, the more people in St Helens we can house and help.”