The Charity's View
The Charity's View
Housing charity Shelter on the pressing need to build more, bigger and better social homes – for everyone
Looking at some of the gems included in this year’s Open House there is much to admire – London can be a hugely impressive site when it comes to our buildings. Yet there is one area where our track record, particularly in recent years, leaves much to be desired – the building of social homes.
One hundred years ago this year, the Addison Act kick-started a widespread programme of social house building with the aim that everyone, no matter their income, could have a place to call home. A century on and last year only 741 social homes were built in London, while 232,409 households in the capital are stuck on housing waiting lists.
This failure to provide enough social homes is the root cause of our housing emergency. In January 2018, Shelter brought together 16 commissioners from across the political spectrum, as well as the Grenfell community, to form its social housing commission. Earlier this year the commission launched its findings, calling for a 20-year programme to deliver 3.1 million more social homes. Social housing is currently an ambulance service for the most vulnerable.
As important as that is, we need a new approach to social housing that will provide a decent, affordable home for all those currently priced out and struggling. This will make social housing not just a safety net for those in greatest need, but also a step up for young families trying to get on and save for their future. A step up that will enable them to put down roots, to thrive, to plan for their futures and their children’s futures.
To realise this vision we need to build more social homes. And we need to make sure the sector is not just bigger, but better – good-quality homes built in the right places for tenants who feel able to make their voices heard.
This is not an easy task, but it is doable if the will is there. To find our more, or to show your support for building more social housing:
England’s housing crisis in numbers
• 741 social homes were built in 2018
• 232,409 households stuck on housing waiting lists
• 3.1m new homes across England needed by 2039
Found out more about Shelter here
