We’re calling for government investment to end the housing crisis

Together with a coalition of leading housing groups and charities, we’re calling on the government to make a significant investment to end the housing crisis

Research shows that by investing £12.8 billion per year, in today’s prices, the government could kick-start a nationwide housebuilding programme of around 1.45 million social homes and shared ownership properties across the country.

Along with the National Housing Federation, Shelter, Crisis, and the Chartered Institute of Housing, we’re calling on the government to make this investment. A stimulus from the government is the only way to solve the housing crisis, since the private market alone can’t build the quantities or types of homes that people need.

‘Everyone needs a secure, stable and affordable place to live’, said our chief executive Crispin Truman, ‘but right now there are more than 170,000 families in rural communities who are on social housing waiting lists. At the current rate of building it would take 130 years just to meet this backlog.

‘Just like our towns and cities, communities in the countryside need a healthy mix of homes, including homes for social rent’, said Crispin. ‘These offer long-term stability to families on lower incomes in rural areas, where life is more expensive and work can often be insecure and seasonal. They allow people to put down roots and plan for the future.’