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.
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
Everyone In: Where Are They Now?
The need for a roadmap out of street homelessness in England
Published: 27 August 2021
Briefing: The social housing overcrowding scandal
Years of underinvestment in social housing has resulted in chronic levels of overcrowding in the social rented sector. New research from Shelter has revealed the extent of this crisis:1.5 million people are living in overcrowded social homes today –an increase of more than 40% in just five years. We will not end the housing emergency without building much more social housing.
Published: 27 July 2021
200,000 hit by the benefit cap
Shelter analysis shows that 200,000 households across Britain are now benefit capped, 83% of whom are families with children.
Published: 28 June 2021
Briefing: Opposition Day Debate on Planning
Last year, the government promised that reforms to the planning system will lead to the delivery of “at least” as much affordable housing. However, over the last five years social homebuilding has averaged less than 6,500 homes a year, which is less than 10% of the amount that is needed. Delivering “at least” as many social homes is simply not good enough - and any reforms to the planning system must increase supply of social housing in order to end the housing emergency for good.
Published: 21 June 2021