What Can the Next UK Government Do to Reduce Homelessness Through Improved Social Housing?
Glen Hamilton Dip IoD
Director I Non-Executive Board Member | Leading with Purpose in Social Housing, Homelessness, and Sustainable Development
Homelessness is a growing crisis in the UK, with thousands of individuals and families lacking stable and secure housing. According to data from just 7 months ago (https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/at_least_309000_people_homeless_in_england_today), there were at least 309,000 homeless people in the UK – with almost 140,000 of them under the age of 16. The number of households at risk of homelessness has also risen dramatically over recent years, thanks in large part to the seemingly ever-present cost-of-living crisis.
You don’t even need to look at the hard statistics – a walk down almost any high street or through any park will show you that there is a real and present homelessness issue in this country. The next UK government has both a responsibility and an opportunity to address this issue head-on by focusing on improving social housing.
In this article, I’ll take a look at actionable strategies and policy recommendations to reduce homelessness through enhanced social housing.
Understanding the Scope of the Homelessness Crisis
Current UK homelessness statistics paint a grim picture of the situation in the UK. Close to 4,000 people sleep on the streets every night (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2023/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2023), and many more live in temporary accommodations or face the threat of eviction. Several factors contribute to this crisis, including the lack of affordable housing, economic instability, and cuts to social services.
Of course, there is no silver bullet in terms of ‘fixing’ this problem, but in my opinion, social housing is an important component of what needs to be a multi-faceted, cross-sector approach to end homelessness.
The Role of Social Housing in Combating Homelessness
Social housing offers affordable rental housing to those in need (https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns/what_is_social_housing). It is a key component in the fight against homelessness, providing a safety net for vulnerable populations.
However, the current system has significant shortcomings. There is a severe shortage of social housing, and existing stock often fails to meet the needs of those it is intended to serve.
Policy Recommendations for the Next Government
To effectively reduce homelessness, the next UK government must implement comprehensive policies that improve and expand social housing. Here are my recommendations:
Increasing Social Housing Supply
● Building More Homes: The government should set a target to build at least 150,000 new social homes each year. This ambitious goal is necessary to meet the growing demand and provide stable housing for those at risk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46788530
● Utilising Public Land: Public land can be leveraged for social housing projects, ensuring that new developments are both feasible and strategically located.
● Revamping Existing Housing Stock: Renovating and repurposing existing buildings can provide additional housing options. This approach has the dual effect of increasing supply and revitalising communities.
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Ensuring Affordability and Accessibility
● Rent Control Measures: Implementing rent controls can help keep housing affordable for low-income families. The government can protect tenants from sudden and unaffordable hikes by capping rent increases.
● Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Social housing must be accessible to all, including people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. This means ensuring that new developments are designed with inclusivity in mind.
Enhancing Funding and Financial Support
● Increasing Government Funding: Significant investment is required to expand social housing. The government should increase funding allocations to ensure that new projects can be initiated and sustained.
● Incentives for Private Sector Participation: Offering incentives to private developers can encourage the inclusion of affordable housing in their projects. This could include tax breaks or subsidies for developments that meet specific affordability criteria.
Improving Social Services and Support
● Integrated Support Services: Homelessness is often accompanied by other issues, such as mental health problems or addiction. Integrating support services with social housing can help address these root causes and provide holistic support to residents.
● Mental Health and Addiction Services: Comprehensive mental health and addiction services must be part of the social housing strategy. Providing these services can help individuals maintain stable housing and improve their overall quality of life.
Successful Models and Case Studies
We’re not the only country dealing with these issues, and it can help to look to our neighbours for advice, guidance and valuable insights. For example, Finland's Housing First approach (https://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/case-study/eradicating-homelessness-finland-housing-first-programme) has significantly reduced homelessness by prioritising stable housing before addressing other issues. Locally, projects like the Swan House in North East Lincolnshire (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-67732201) have shown how integrated support services and innovative housing solutions can make a difference.
Conclusion
The next UK government has a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the homelessness crisis by improving social housing. I would argue that even greater than the opportunity is the responsibility – as a country, we have to do better for those among us who are struggling, down on their luck, or in vulnerable situations. Increasing the supply of affordable homes, ensuring accessibility, enhancing funding, and integrating support services means that the government can provide stable housing for those in need.
With a comprehensive and committed approach, we can move towards a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurrent. Let’s remain optimistic that the new government will take the necessary actions to turn this vision into reality.
Together, we can build a society where everyone has a safe place to call home – and, really, isn’t that least we can do?
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4 个月Well done chief! Glen Hamilton
MMC Developer for the Social Housing Sector
4 个月I think the other thing to add here is the private rental sector which is diminishing faster than the conservatives are losing votes. Private landlords continue to run for the hills due to section 24, which interestingly is NEVER spoken about in the media when reporting on the shortage of rental properties. This along with the possibility of the taking away of Section 21 is enough to push many over the edge. Whilst this alone won't solve the housing issue, private landlords are crucial to upping the numbers of housing stock if and running concurrently with the building of new stock, it would make a considerable difference all round. In conclusion, section 24 needs to go!