PROTESTORS will take to the streets over the ‘lack of social housing’ in Waltham Forest.

Young families are expected to join trade unionists to demand the council designate thousands of homes for affordable rent – not hundreds.

Over the next five years 12,000 homes will be built in the borough.

Waltham Forest Trades Union said only 400 of these will be designated for the lowest earners.

Campaigners also want private rents capped at “truly affordable levels”.

Trade unions affiliated to Waltham Forest Trades Council alongside supporters of Waltham Forest Housing Action will march through the borough on Saturday (November 21).

The event starts with a march from Abbotts Park, Leyton, at 12 noon to a rally in Market Square, Walthamstow at 1.30pm.

Linda Taaffe, Secretary, Waltham Forest Trades Council said: “Housing has reached crisis proportions, blighting the lives of thousands of people, young and old, indigenous or migrant.

“This cannot be our future. The government let’s private interests rule in what should be a public service. Local councillors must start putting up a fight against this.”

Housing charity Shelter has reported there are nearly 21,000 households on the council’s waiting list, nearly three times as many than in 1997.

It also reports the council owns 10,000 homes, nearly 30 per cent less than it did in 2001.