Why is social housing important for levelling up?
Left behind places are areas that haven't had the investment they need. Too often, they are left behind on housing too.
Right across the country millions of people do not have a good quality place to call home at a price that’s fair. And the cost of living crisis is going to make the situation worse.
Put simply, home is everything. And this is especially true for those people and places identified as left behind.
The impact of the housing emergency
Last year, we produced a report about the impact of the housing emergency on three locations: Burnley, Plymouth and Sheffield. We used the local knowledge of our hub services and real stories from the people they support.
These stories highlight the deep and varied housing problems across our country.
For people like those in our report struggling with rising rents and stuck in unfit accommodation, a tangible improvement in their housing situation would significantly boost living standards. It would increase opportunities and truly represent levelling up.
That’s why we need a new generation of good quality, cheap to heat, genuinely affordable social homes. Social homes with rents pegged to local incomes that stay affordable over time. Only then will everyone have a safe, permanent place to live and the foundations to thrive.