Introduction from Sarah Elliot

This year we have seen significant progress in the fight for home.

Across the country, there is growing recognition that ending the housing emergency requires bold, long-term action.

Yet the scale and urgency of the housing emergency continue to increase. We must stand together to meet the challenges ahead. Now is the time to turn momentum into lasting change, so that everyone has access to a safe and secure home.

Every three minutes, a household becomes homeless. Every twelve minutes, a family becomes homeless. Today, more than 135,000 households are living in temporary accommodation, including over 177,000 children, which is the highest number since records began.

Behind these numbers are real families. Families forced to live for months or even years in cramped rooms without basic amenities, children growing up without stability, and communities feeling the strain of a housing system that is no longer fit for purpose.

At the same time, more than 1.3 million households are waiting for a social home. Despite new homes being built, too many continue to be lost through sales, demolitions and tenure changes, highlighting a housing system that is failing to replace affordable homes at the scale needed. That is why we continue to campaign for long-term, sustainable solutions.

There is a growing public and political consensus that the housing emergency cannot continue unchecked. Voices from communities across the country are calling for meaningful change to the housing system. This moment presents a critical opportunity to reshape housing in England for good. Turning progress into lasting change requires us to work together, with a shared determination and vision to build a housing system that works for everyone.

A landmark win for renters

A block of flats next to a blossoming tree with a blue sky in the background.

This year marked a major milestone in the fight for home as the Renters' Rights Act became a reality. This landmark achievement follows years of determined campaigning by renters, people with lived experience of the housing emergency, supporters and partners who refused to accept a system that too often left people vulnerable to unfair eviction and insecure housing. It is a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when people come together and demand better.

The Renters' Rights Act represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance the system. It promises stronger protections, greater security and a fairer deal for millions of renters. This progress did not happen by accident. It happened because people refused
to accept the status quo.

The case for social homes

That is why we must fight for a new generation of social homes. Our Build Social Housing campaign continues to make the case that social homes are not simply housing policy, they are essential national infrastructure. Social housing boosts the economy, and provides stability, opportunity and security. It helps children to thrive, supports good health and strengthens communities.

We welcomed the Government's £39 billion commitment to social and affordable housing as an important step forward. However, much more is needed. England needs at least 90,000
social rent homes built a year, for 10 years. We will continue to push for the delivery of these social homes across the country, ensuring that commitments become homes, and promises become real progress.

Changing lives, changing the system

While we continue to fight for lasting change, it is essential that we continue to provide life-changing support for people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

This year, tens of thousands of households from across England accessed vital support through our emergency helpline, webchat, local hubs, and legal services.

At the centre of every one of these cases is a person or family living at the sharp end of the housing emergency. We stand alongside people affected by the housing emergency to ensure their voices are heard.

From taking action in local communities, to challenging politicians in Westminster, this report shows the difference that can be achieved when people come together to fight for home. Creating meaningful and lasting change requires us to transform the systems that create housing insecurity in the first place.

Looking ahead

As we look ahead, our focus is clear. We will continue to fight for the social homes which England urgently needs. We will work to ensure that hard-won housing rights are properly enforced and implemented, so that everyone can benefit from the protections they deserve.

The progress we have made this year belongs to all of us. To our supporters, campaigners, partners, volunteers and colleagues: thank you. Your commitment powers this movement and brings us closer to a future where everyone has a safe home.

We have much more work to do, but together we can end the housing emergency.

Picture of estate building with lawn in front

This content is from our 2025/26 impact report. It covers our work between April 2025 and March 2026, and all information is accurate as of this period.