Why is social housing important today
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The population has grown substantially in the past 40yrs. Out of the increased population a percentage of people will require social housing. Consequently, as the population grows so does the need for social housing. However, whilst the population has grown the amount of social housing has reduced by half over the last 40yrs.
The figures paint a stark picture, as of December 2019 the following figures were recorded by the national housing federation, COVID-19 will no doubt have accelerated the existing problems.
3.6 million people are living in an overcrowded home
2.5 million are unable to afford their rent or mortgage
2.5 million are in "hidden households" they cannot afford to move out of, including house shares, adults living with their parents, or people living with an ex-partner
1.7 million are in unsuitable housing such as older people stuck in homes they cannot get around and families in properties which have no outside space
1.4 million are in poor quality homes
400,000 are homeless or at risk of homelessness - including people sleeping rough, living in homeless shelters, temporary accommodation or sofa-surfing
3.6m people could only afford to live decently if they were in social housing > country need 145k social homes a year to meet demand.
Very often the only alternative to those who would be in social housing is care in hospital or care homes. Hospitals are already over stretched and cannot accommodate better cared for outside of the hospital. Longer life expectancy and a reduction in the number of care homes has reduced the number of avenues available for those with particularly acute conditions.
The problem of social housing is made more acute by COVID-19 because we now have rough sleepers being housed in hotels and guest houses. These people will need to be rehoused or they will return to the streets. Those who have failed to pay rent or keep up with mortgage payments are at risk of eviction from their homes. Despite all of these factors which demand access to housing be made easier we live in world whee exponential increases in house prices are making heading.
Contrary to popular belief we have sufficient rooms and houses, many houses have been built in the wrong areas and remain vacant. From 1980-2018, 56,3400 homes were built in Barnsley and Doncaster where population grew by 29,430, in contrast, during the same period 29,340 built in Cambridge and Oxford where population has risen by 95,079.
In light of the above, you will agree that social housing is more important today than it has ever been.
Read the post on Substack:
https://keshavsharma.substack.com/p/why-is-social-housing-important-today