Let's build social housing
Social homes provide a stable foundation for families to settle and communities to thrive.
In England, we need to build 90,000 social homes a year to end the housing emergency and reverse the trend of rising homelessness.
History shows us that to deliver enough social homes, we need to get councils building.
We need to get councils building social homes
Right now, homelessness is at record levels and housing costs are spiralling. One of the most appalling symptoms of the housing emergency is that over 175,000 children are homeless in temporary accommodation.
This accommodation is far from 'temporary', as families can be stuck there for months or even years. It's often overcrowded, with families cramped in hotel rooms or bed and breakfasts. For too many children, there's no space to play or do their homework. And it can lack the basics for family life, such as cooking facilities.
Social housing is a long-term solution to move families out of unsuitable temporary accommodation and into safe, secure and genuinely affordable homes.
Sign our new petition calling on the government to get councils building social homes.
Sign petitionWhy isn't there enough social housing?
Social homes have been sold off but not replaced
Social homes have been underfunded compared to other so-called 'affordable' housing
Not enough new social rent homes have been built
The impact of the lack of social housing on society
4,793 people slept rough on any given night in autumn 2025 - this number has more than doubled since 2010
175,990 children are stuck homeless in damaging temporary accommodation
1.3 million households are on social housing waiting lists - forcing too many people into unsuitable, unaffordable and unstable private renting
So much has been taken away simply by the removal of social housing as a primary option. We were part of a community. Safe, secure, stable.
Chris, who grew up in social housing
Uncover the evidence
Read our report on how we can get councils building social homes.
Read the reportOur campaign so far
Following a Shelter campaign last year, the government announced £39 billion over ten years for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. With this game-changing investment, they promised a council and social housing revolution. But we're still not building anywhere near enough social homes every year.
The problem is the government's reliance on private developers. Private developers will never prioritise social housing because they're focused on profits.
So, the only way to deliver a new generation of social homes is to give councils the funding and support they need to get building. Local councils are best placed to build homes that will meet the needs of their communities.
That's why we're calling for the government to introduce a Get Councils Building Bill to Parliament. The King's Speech on 13 May 2026 is an ideal opportunity.
The housing emergency is not inevitable. This is the government's chance to commit to a safe, secure and affordable housing system for everyone.
Did you know?
The last time over 300,000 homes were built in a single year in England was 1969. And almost half of them were genuinely affordable social homes built by councils.
Social housing benefits everyone
If we all support the building of new social homes, this will transform our society. It will:
end homelessness by clearing social housing waiting lists, providing stable homes for families in temporary accommodation, and ending rough sleeping
deliver more genuinely affordable homes – social rents are linked to local incomes, so they are the most affordable type of home
be a great investment for the taxpayer – 90,000 new social homes would boost the economy and help create 140,000 jobs in the first year
With secure, long-term tenancies, people can put down roots. Social homes create stronger communities and a fairer society. Right now, it has never been more urgent to fight for them.
Sign petitionMore on social housing
The case for social housing
