Young families in the East of England are waiting for 19 years before they can afford to buy their own home.
Rising house prices mean more people are having to rent, but the advent of the right to buy in the 1980's means there's often a shortage of social housing through councils or housing associations.
In the East of England last year 12,419 households were on the waiting list for social housing.
In England the number of people living in social housing is 17%
21% are renting in the private sector.
3 years ago Clint Scott left prison for the second time. He was released without anywhere to live and ended up on the streets.
Clint Scott Credit: ITV Anglia
Clint got help from a youth charity and found a hostel.
After a two year battle he now lives in a one bedroomed flat in Norwich with his partner and one year old daughter, Mia.
Alan lives in a homeless hostel Credit: ITV Anglia
Alan has been living in Jimmy's homeless hostel in Cambridge since December.
He's ex-Army but lost his rental property after going to prison for theft.
He is on the waiting list for a council house but it takes a minimum of two years.
John Broughton, Author, Municipal Dreams Credit: ITV Anglia
Author John Broughton writes about social housing and believes we need to have 100,000 affordable social housing built to provide a viable housing market
Harrow Court in Stevenage Credit: ITV Anglia
People who do live in social housing in some parts of our region say they and their children are suffering because of anti social behaviour, especially break-ins and people taking drugs.
