Policy Library
Policy, research and good practice work forms a major part of Shelter's efforts to address and find solutions for homelessness and housing issues.
1 in 5 renters say their home harms their health - it's time to Fight for Home
1 in 5 renters say their home is harming their or their families' health according to new research. This factsheet looks into the numbers. It's time to end the housing emergency to treat a major cause of ill health.
Published: 13 October 2021
Briefing: The social housing deficit
We are in the midst of a housing emergency, a crisis that has been driven by decades of underinvestment in social housing. Last year alone, we built just 6,644 social homes across the whole of England, but in the same period we lost 28,796 social homes to sales and demolitions. At the same time, over one million households are on social housing waiting lists across the country – and many more families struggle to get by in an increasingly expensive private rented sector.
Published: 7 October 2021
Benefit Cap Alert Briefing
Shelter analysis of the latest government statistics on the benefit cap, which shows that 188,000 households are now affected. More than 8 in 10 (83%) are families with children.
Published: 6 October 2021
Briefing: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Parliamentary Questions
Michael Gove MP will face his first parliamentary questions on Monday 25th October as the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This is an important opportunity for the new Secretary of State to set out his plans and priorities for housing, and Shelter is asking MPs to submit questions on social housebuilding, on his plans to end rough sleeping for good, and on introducing an ambitious Renters’ Reform Bill.
Published: 4 October 2021
Briefing: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Parliamentary Questions
Michael Gove MP will face his first parliamentary questions on Monday 25th October as the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Shelter is asking MPs to call on the new Secretary of State to set out his plan to build social housing, his strategy to end rough sleeping for good, and when he will finally bring forward an ambitious Renters’ Reform Bill.
Published: 3 October 2021
Submission: House of Lords Built environment committee inquiry into housing demand in the UK
For decades, successive governments have failed to invest in social housing: genuinely affordable homes that are tied to local incomes and that households on low incomes can afford. The impact of this failure is clear: there are now over one million households on social housing waiting lists across the country and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Published: 1 October 2021
Submission: Spending Review 2021
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has a vital opportunity to build a stronger, healthier and more resilient society. One that ensures people can get a good foundation in life, and we can bounce back from the pandemic. To this end, tackling the housing emergency must be at the top of the government’s agenda.
Published: 15 September 2021
Universal Credit Alert Briefing
5 million households rely on state support to pay the rent
Published: 15 September 2021
Submission: Treasury Committee inquiry into an equal recovery
The pandemic has affected us all, but it has not affected us equally. The economic impact of COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities: while some households have benefitted from increased savings during lockdown, others have fallen into rent arrears, debt, and homelessness. The impact has also been unevenly distributed across the country, with greater levels of need arising in areas where the cost of housing is high, and the undersupply of social housing is most acute.
Published: 1 September 2021
Briefing: Everyone In: Where are they now?
To protect lives, government must learn lessons from ‘Everyone In’, including a thorough review of outcomes for those helped. They must set out a roadmap to end rough sleeping - to protect everyone at risk of the streets, prevent homelessness by tackling COVID-arrears and inadequate benefits, and build a new generation of social housing aimed at preventing homelessness.
Published: 31 August 2021