Crisis responds to £2 billion UK Government investment in social and affordable homes

Today (Tuesday 25 March) the Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister have announced up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes will be built with a £2 billion investment to deliver the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

The announcement is part of the Westminster Government’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes and its commitment to ‘deliver the biggest boost to affordable and social housing in a generation’.

In February this year government statistics revealed a net loss of 7,723 social homes in England over the previous year, as sales and demolitions continued to surpass the number of homes built: 17,589 social homes were either sold or demolished, with just 9,866 social homes built. Over the past 10 years there has been a net loss of 180,067 social homes in England.

Responding to the announcement, Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“Across England, the desperate shortage of social homes has had profoundly damaging consequences. Homelessness is increasingly rapidly and record numbers of families are trapped in temporary accommodation.

"Today’s announcement is hugely welcome. We hope this signals the beginning of a social housebuilding programme that will radically shift this country’s response to homelessness, putting housing at the heart of the solution.

“With over 240,000 households experiencing homelessness in England alone, we urge the Westminster Government to ensure that the vast majority of the initial 18,000 homes are for social rent so that people facing homelessness can access them. If we want to give everyone the foundation of a safe home, we need to build homes that everyone can afford."