Housing Minister Reacts To Homeless Caller's Heartbreaking Living Conditions

10 June 2018, 12:51 | Updated: 10 June 2018, 16:15

The minister for housing said that more needs to be done for people like Giorgio, a homeless man who turned to his van for accommodation.

The housing minister Dominic Raab told Tom Swarbrick that fixing problems with social housing is a "team effort" with local authorities, and that more needs to be done.

His comments come straight after Tom played the Tory minister a clip from an interview with Giorgio, a man who now lives in a van after losing his home.

Giorgio told Tom that living in the van was difficult during winter months, when it was damp and cold.

"I still live with an illness now, I can manage it but as I get older I have no idea what I'm going to," he said.

"Sometimes I fear that living in the van, what if I just die?

"How many days is it going to be before anyone knows I'm still stuck in there - probably a traffic warden trying to give me a ticket."

Dominic Raab responded to the clip saying that Giorgio "sounded like a really proud man" and that his heart goes out to him.

"The lack of a roof over your head is often a symptom, rather than an underlying cause," he said.

"It's true, we've got to build more homes.

"But also at the cost people can afford."

The minister confirmed that 217,000 houses were built last year, which he says was the highest number "in all but one of the last 30 years.

"But we need to do more, patricianly for those people like Giorgio."

More Tom Swarbrick

See more More Tom Swarbrick

Emma Webber (left) speaking to LBC

Mother of Nottingham attack victim Barnaby Webber blasts police ‘mistruths’ after force is put in special measures

Lord Harrington said there should be a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes.

Former refugees minister Lord Harrington calls for a cap on the number of asylum seekers the UK takes

Mel Stride has backed the PM

Rishi Sunak has 'absolutely not' betrayed nation over Rwanda plan, insists minister after Braverman's attack on PM

Tom and caller

'Our family is there': Mother shares heartbreaking experience of being a British Jew during Israel-Hamas conflict

The ban will be brought into effect in months

'Children should be in the classroom to learn': Gillian Keegan orders 'blanket ban' of mobile phones in schools

Exclusive
Tributes have been paid to Elianne after she was stabbed to death in Croydon

Fellow pupil of schoolgirl stabbed to death in Croydon describes heartbreaking moment students were told of her killing

Scotland's first safe drug consumption space set to be openned

'Isn't this just decriminalising heroin?': Tom Swarbrick questions Labour MSP over first safe drug consumption room

The education secretary discusses educational reforms with Tom Swarbrick

Shadow education secretary says 'Building Schools for the Future Programme' would have prevented Raac crisis

Tom Swabrick

'Is it not completely mental?': Tom Swarbrick astonished as schools shut due to crumble-risk concrete before new term

Exam results

Equation sheets given to GCSE cohort in attempt lessen reduced grade inflation blow, schools minister says

Crime commentator on Adam Provan

Internal review of rapist ex-Met officer is the equivalent of 'marking your own homework', says crime commentator

Education Secretary discuss new Eton free schools on LBC

‘Bailed out by Eton’: Education Secretary discusses new free schools with Tom Swarbrick

Lucy Letby: We have to know what went so 'catastrophically wrong' says Tom Swarbrick

Lucy Letby: We have to know what went so 'catastrophically wrong' says Tom Swarbrick

Exclusive
Lord Edward Garnier has called for a public inquiry into Andrew Malkinson's case

Top lawyer blasts Andrew Malkinson rape case as the 'worst miscarriage of justice of the 21st century'

Suella Barge

Suella Braverman can't be blamed for housing migrants on barge with Legionella, ConservativeHome editor says

Tom Swarbrick on mortgages

It would be 'manifestly unfair' to use taxpayers' money to subsidise mortgages, Tom Swarbrick says