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.
Response: Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping
The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping asked for responses from the sector on our experiences of the government's 'Everyone In' initiative, which supported people sleeping rough into emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission aims to examine and learn the lessons from the emergency response, in order to understand what worked during the pandemic and what is needed going forward.
Published: 30 April 2021
Briefing: House of Lords debate on the risk of mass evictions resulting from COVID-19-related poverty
At the start of the March 2020 lockdown, the government put in place a package of emergency housing measures to keep people safe in their homes during the pandemic. However, over the course of the pandemic, people have fallen through the gaps in support.
Published: 21 April 2021
Briefing: Accommodating street homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic
Following the High Court ruling in Ncube v Brighton and Hove City Council, this briefing outlines what the judgment means for local authorities and for street homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published: 20 April 2021
Universal Credit Alert Briefing
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released their new Universal Credit statistics. We have analysed these numbers to show the impact of Covid-19 on private renters claiming Local Housing Allowance (LHA). There has been a huge rise in the proportion of private renters receiving LHA since February 2020 and this continues to grow.
Published: 13 April 2021
Benefit Cap Alert Briefing
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released their new benefit cap statistics. We have analysed these numbers to show how the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a huge rise in benefit capped households and how this is impacting them.
Published: 13 April 2021
Fair Housing in London: Tackling London's housing emergency
Tackling London's deepening housing emergency will take action from national government, from local councils, and from London’s next Mayor. Shelter London is calling on political leaders at all levels to take urgent action to address the inequality which is rife in London’s housing system.
Published: 13 April 2021
Findings from the Hackney Temporary Accommodation Listening Campaign: Residents Call for Change
Temporary accommodation residents from across the London Borough of Hackney have come together to talk about their experiences, and what changes they want to see.
Published: 12 April 2021
Bristol Fair Renting Campaign Launch: Demand Fair Renting for Bristol
Renters across Bristol are coming together to expose, to the wider community and to those in power, the reality of private renting. With Shelter Bristol’s support, they have created the Bristol Fair Renting Campaign and launched a manifesto demanding urgent change
Published: 7 April 2021
Consultation response: Home Office's VAWG strategy consultation
Shelter's response to the VAWG strategy consultation focuses on how the strategy will impact housing and homelessness. Housing support is one of the cornerstones to supporting survivors of domestic abuse and Shelter's response focuses on this. However, we stand with the domestic abuse sector in expressing our opposition to separating out domestic abuse from the proposed VAWG strategy. ‘Dual strategies’ will fragment coordinated action to tackle VAWG directly impacting all women and girls, whose needs are multiple and intersecting.
Published: 22 February 2021
Submission: Public Accounts Committee inquiry into COVID-19: Housing rough sleepers
To protect all street homeless people from both the virus and freezing weather during and beyond this national lockdown, we are calling on the government to direct councils to accommodate everyone at risk of the street. We want the government to provide not only adequate funding but robust guidance, clarifying the basis on which everyone at risk of the street should be accommodated.
Published: 1 February 2021