'I love this place but I have nowhere to live'

For seven months Virgilio Henriques was homeless in Guernsey, living in a cold garage and then sleeping in his car.

"It's horrible, I don't wish it for anyone," he said. Now living more securely in staff accommodation, he is appalled by his experience of homelessness.

"I was washing myself with baby wipes. I didn't shower for three months, I would go to the shop to buy a couple of things, use the toilet to wash my face, try to survive."

According to the charity At Home in Guernsey, more than 1,000 people are "insecurely housed", at risk of losing their home or currently experiencing homelessness in the island.

Candidates at this year's general election have recognised the island is in the grips of a housing crisis, with voters consistently highlighting the issue at the BBC's Your Voice, Your Vote events.

Public sector unions have blamed the lack of local affordable housing on problems recruiting staff, which has led to long waiting times in healthcare and struggles in schools.

In 2023 an independent report by experts ARC4 identified an average-priced property costed more than 16.3 times as much as average earnings, compared with 16 in Jersey and 8.3 in England.

Ray Marshall, who has rented a four-bedroom house for his family for the last few years, said buying a property of his own was out of reach.

He said: "We found a four-bedroom house [to buy], the deposit ended up at £12,400 to move in.

"It meant it wasn't going to happen, it was ridiculous.

"It's utterly ridiculous, and crushing for any family, let alone mine."

Prices have started to come down in recent months, with the latest figures published in May showing the average price of a house between January and March 2025 was £580,412.

That is 3.9% lower than the previous quarter and 3.2% lower than the first quarter of 2024.

Between 2020 and 2023 the average price of a local market property jumped by about £200,000.

However, the cost to rent continues to increase, with average local market rents at £2,068 a month in the first quarter of 2025 - 1.5% higher than the previous quarter, 8.2% higher than the first quarter of 2024 and 51.7% higher than five years ago.

Mr Marshall, who stood for election in 2016 and 2020 but is not standing in this election due to a back problem, said: "I can't see anything changing after the election, you will have populism from candidates.

"But we all know they can't act alone, they need support. I'm not encouraged.

"At some point in the next term, we'll hear complaints that the kids aren't coming home, the problem is right there in front of them.

"Talking about things is one thing, but we need to start seeing it."

The recent Quality of Life Report 2025, compiled by the Guernsey Community Foundation, found young people were being "driven away" by rising living costs.

Mr Marshall said: "As a parent it makes me feel pretty hollow that they may not be here. If they chose to move away I would be gutted."

Work to address the island's housing crisis did take place during the last political term with the creation of the Guernsey Housing Plan, although there is a consensus among candidates more needs to be done by the new Committee for Housing.

The States agreed a new "strategic housing indicator" in 2023, which set a goal of building 1,565 new units of accommodation between 2023 and 2027, effectively 300 new homes a year.

An update to the target last year stated 1,488 new units were needed by 2028.

Many candidates agree there is a need to increase housing supply but the island's population policy is also debated.

The States' current policy is to grow the island's population by 300 people every year. According to its statistics, the population was 64,781 on 31 December 2023, growing by 910 (1.6%) that year.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, during Covid-19 when migration was lower, the annual changes were 0.6%, 0.7% and 0.6% respectively, the figures show.

Lisa Vahey, who sold her home and is now in the rental sector, said getting back on the property ladder was now more difficult.

"Since Brexit and Covid prices have skyrocketed," she said.

"To move to the next rung of the ladder for me my husband and my son was just impossible.

"It's getting to the point where you are getting the money from your wages and the majority of it is going on your rent.

"Money is getting shorter and shorter each month."

Adding to bill woes, Guernsey Electricity is set to increase its prices by 8% on 1 July.

Mrs Vahey said she was concerned with prices increasing she was unlikely to be able to afford to buy any time soon.

"The plan is to buy property over here, but with prices the way they are, it just seems further and further away to be able to do that," she said.

"At the age I am, I want to have my own property and the ultimate goal is to be able to pass that property on to my kids. Not being able to do that, it's upsetting, it's frustrating, it's quite worrying. Where do you go from here?"

The body which represents the construction industry in the island is hopeful of progress being made.

Construction Industry Forum chairman John Bampkin said he was keen to work with the new assembly to ensure housebuilding happens in the next four years - including through faster methods such as modular construction.

"I think we can gear up to a degree, but we have got to look at what we build and how we build it and much like we've seen on previous big infrastructure projects we will need assistance from the UK in places," he said.

"We need the States to talk to us and subsidise when they need to."

Housebuilding has not reached the level candidates believe is necessary to address the current crisis yet, but for Virgilio Henriques, things are looking up.

"I have staff accommodation now, I can see my son every week, it gives me my life back. If it wasn't for my little boy, I wouldn't be here talking to you.

"I am very happy now, I wish I had this eight months ago, something warm.

"It'll be 20 years next year of me living here in Guernsey, I love this place, I made my family here. I love my son, I have nowhere to go at the moment, I still have bills to pay. But for now I am safe and I have to thank the people who have helped me, including my new boss."

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