Social housing

Campaigning for change

We urgently need long-term, large-scale action to address our chronic lack of social housing.

• What is social housing?
  Find out why social housing is the only truly affordable, secure housing option for people across the country.

• The story of social housing
  Learn how social housing has changed over the years, and what we must do to revive it.

• Let's build social housing
  Now we've helped secure £39bn in government investment for the next 5-10 years; now we need campaigners to ensure it is spent on social rent homes rather than other so-called 'affordable' housing.

• Craig David lends his voice for social housing

  Shelter took Craig David and his mum Tina back in time to his childhood social home in Southampton’s Holyrood Estate. Now he's making an urgent plea for more social housing.

• Our Made in Social Housing campaign
  We teamed up with people who grew up in social housing - including some faces you might recognise – to call for the building of thousands of social homes, and an end to the housing emergency.

• The progress we've made
  Read about the Social Housing Regulation Act and how this is enabling positive change for those in social rent homes.

Why we need more social housing

Levels of public housebuilding have plummeted dramatically, leading to a sharp increase in families stuck in expensive, poor-quality, insecure, privately rented homes.

• The value of social housing
  Social housing is an investment in people, strong communities and the future of our country.

• Loss of social housing
  Social housing has declined year after year, leading to a significant deficit that has impacted the entire housing system.

• The case for investing in social housing and how to deliver it
  Find local authority data on children in temporary accommodation in your area and explore the research and reports that have shaped our call for government investment in social housing.

• Brick by Brick: A Plan To Deliver the Social Homes We Need
  Read a summary of our latest report, which outlines the six key areas the government must address to reach the 90,000 social homes a year by 2029 that England needs.

Get advice

• Applying for social housing (often called 'council housing')
  Advice for council and housing association tenants, people on the housing register and those who want to apply.