The latest findings from Places for People’s annual Wellbeing Survey would suggest yes.
By now, everybody in the UK knows we’ve entered a severe social housing crisis. However, new findings from Places for People – a leading UK property management organisation – highlight that the issue goes beyond bricks and mortar – those manging the homes also need to provide support.
Within the report, experts found obstacles such as financial instability, challenges in accessing employment and digital exclusion are all contributing to social housing problems.
To give content the report highlighted:
- 31% of social housing tenants found it difficult to manage financially
- 25% reported low life satisfaction
- 10% cancelled their broadband or mobile phone contracts
- 24% couldn’t turn the heating on when the temperature dropped
- 17% ran out of food and couldn’t afford to buy more
- 16% had fallen behind the gas or electricity bills
- 37% of non-retired tenants couldn’t work due to long-term sickness or disability
These findings, concerning to say the least, contributed to the £334million of social value Places for People created in 2023/24 and led to the following positive outcomes:
- 10,390 people were saved from experiencing or facing homelessness
- 4,295 people were supported towards an education, employment or training
- 14,697 people supported with financial and digital inclusion
- 23,855 people supported through programmes targeting health and wellbeing
- 29,808 helped through schemes looking into sustainable and resilient communities – including local community hubs, events, food pantries and activities for young people
- Over 450 community projects were created to help those struggling financially – whether it was providing them with new or second-hand furniture, white goods and self-defence courses for those at risk of domestic violence
- £50,000 was invested to 32 charities who manage food banks and warm spaces across the UK
Against this backdrop, the organisation is calling on other providers to act.
‘Our country is in the most serious state of housing crisis we have faced in modern times,’ Greg Reed, Group CEO of Places for People said. ‘There are currently 159,000 children in England living in temporary accommodation with their families and 1.29 million households are waiting for a social home. This is absolutely not good enough.
‘Our Time to Build campaign last year also found that one in five people in the UK fear they or someone they know will be homeless in the next year and the need for the right mix of quality, affordable homes remains vital. So, after years of a lack of serious action, I’m so encouraged by this government’s immediate focus on housebuilding since coming into office.
‘With 13,000 new homes in our building pipeline over the next five years, the biggest in our sector, Places for People is ready to play a huge role in this.’
Kevin Garvey, Head of Member Relations at the National Housing Federation, added: ‘Housing associations are not only passionate about providing safe, secure, and affordable homes to people on the lowest incomes, but they also play a vital long-term role in the communities they serve.
‘With many social housing residents struggling with cost-of-living pressures, which can have a knock-on impact on their health and wellbeing, the Beyond Homes campaign is more important than ever in helping identify the barriers residents face and the support that is needed.’
Photo by iStrfry/Marcus via UnSplash
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