Shelter announces new CEO who aims to deliver change
12 months ago | 13 comments
Homelessness crisis set to soar as Shelter calls for 90,000 social homes a year
9:51 AM, 1st May 2025, 12 months ago
15
A Shelter analysis claims the housing emergency will leave more than 206,000 children homeless by 2029.
The housing charity says that without building 90,000 social homes a year for a decade, the homelessness crisis will only get worse.
According to Shelter, billions of pounds continue to be wasted on temporary accommodation, including hostels, B&Bs and one-room bedsits.
The cost of housing people in temporary accommodation is on track to spiral by 71% to £3.9 billion by 2029, equivalent to £22,000 per household per year.
Number of homeless families set to soar
Shelter analysis reveals the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation could surge by 44% to 182,000, nearly enough to fill a city the size of Bristol.
Mairi MacRae, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: “It is a national shame that so many thousands of children in England are growing up in cramped, insecure temporary accommodation, sharing beds with siblings, eating dinner from trays on their laps, and being moved from one place to the next with no stability. This should never be the reality for any child, but without urgent action, the number of homeless families is set to soar.
“Local councils are buckling under the pressure of the housing emergency, forced to spend billions just to keep people off the streets. It’s nonsensical that we keep sinking tax-payers money into damaging short-term fixes when we could invest in lasting solutions that give families the security and stability of a real home.”
She adds: “The Spending Review in June is a critical moment for the government to act. If they are serious about ending homelessness, they must commit to building 90,000 new social homes a year for a decade, ensuring that every family has the foundation of a genuinely affordable, stable home.”
Tags:
child homelessness, families in temporary accommodation, Homelessness Crisis, homelessness surge, housing costs, housing emergency, Shelter charity, social homes 2029, social housing, temporary accommodation
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Will Shelter ever step up to help tenants AND landlords?
1 year ago | 23 comments
Shelter demands action as social housing waiting lists hit 100 years in London
12 months ago | 19 comments
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 292
10:18 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
It is a national shame. I agree. Pity shelter for their part in this .
Member Since February 2020 - Comments: 360
10:20 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
You could tackle supply or demand.
Equally they could call to a reduction of migration to meet these targets.
One would think its easier to reduce migration than build houses.
Member Since August 2017 - Comments: 22
10:21 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Quelle surprise! Just wait until the new rent reforms take effect. They’ll be drowning in homelessness. It’s called the law of unintended consequences. Shelter has been mainly responsible for the
demonisation of the PRS. He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind, etc.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
11:05 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Reply to the comment left by roger radford at 01/05/2025 – 10:21
The rent reforms will be a disaster for the homeless and for tenants.
Then we will have the new EPC requirements which will reduce the pool of available property even further.
It beggers belief that organisations like shelter cannot foresee the consequences.
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 94
11:08 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Surely, the question is why will the number of homeless households surge by 44% over the next 4 years and what needs to change to bring the number down? To dismiss this and instead demand billions for new social housing is another shameful political play.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 763
11:29 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Migrant accommodation costs us £5.5 million every day. Added to this is the cost of temporary housing for displaced natives.
I vote for the tax I pay not to be spent this way any more
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 30
11:34 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
I note Shelter does not lead by example and provide good examples of social housing they will provide and offer.. Our local city council has over 200 empty properties that are set for social housing but the social rents don’t come close to covering maintenance to be able to rent them out. Affordable housing is also borderline. Some Housing Associations say they face the same issues on doing maintenance. Trades are in short supply and expensive. Here in the North £300 a day is cheap. We have local Brickies on over £2000 a week on at least 3 sites (if they are good. Very good can pay more). I have good A level students fighting like cats for apprenticeships instead of Uni places. Social Housing is an aspiration not a strong reality. Affordable can be more than twice the rate Social rate benefits pay.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1581
11:40 AM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Far too many tenants don’t look after their homes. Plenty of private landlords know this.
Give people social housing and they don’t look after them either. In the 80s it was easy to spot the council houses amongst the house bought through Right to Buy. It’s the same today.
My local social housing provider doesn’t make a profit. Those at the top receive generous six-figure salaries and final salary pensions. I charge similar rents but pay a fortune in tax.
I look forward to the day that I sell my last one. Then, I’ll apply to work with Shelter. Easy money for doing SFA.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1442 - Articles: 1
12:41 PM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Shelter and Generation rent et al started the ball rolling for many landlords to exit the PRS.
You reap what you sow
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506
6:14 PM, 1st May 2025, About 12 months ago
Perhaps some of the unmarried mums should name the fathers of the children so the state could get some money out of them.
In my 25+ years of letting I have had countless unmarried mums in my properties, and evicted a few through non payment of rent – even though I knew they were still in touch with the fathers .
Milking the system.