General election campaign impact

As the general election draws to a close, look back to see how our sector came together to call for a long-term #PlanForHousing to end the housing crisis for good. NHF members met with candidates to make sure that new and remaining MPs start the new parliament with a good understanding of housing associations.

Our campaign featured across social media, national and local news outlets, radio and TV, helping to ensure social housing is kept on the news agenda.

This is a showcase of the impact of our collective efforts.

Political engagement

A few examples of the ways members have engaged with the #PlanForHousing campaign.

Fantastic to spend the day with @placesforpeople visiting East Wick + Sweetwater near Stratford

Lots of support for a long term #PlanForHousing and my first campaign photos in a hard hat and on scaffolding

Also fab to discuss the need to encourage more women into construction pic.twitter.com/VABFN6QAtF
— Kate Henderson (@KateNHF) June 20, 2024

With more than 130,000 families on the social housing waiting list, it's time for a long-term #PlanForHousing. In the election run-up we're joining @natfednews in calling for help to build more affordable homes for families in our communities. pic.twitter.com/PTz1RCIAmb
— Two Rivers Housing (@TRHousing) June 4, 2024

Make this election a vote for housing!

Ahead of the upcoming #GeneralElection on Thursday 4 July we want highlight the need for long-term thinking and a #planforhousing to fix this crisis; and it can be fixed!

Find out more here - https://t.co/0fT3ACxxzS pic.twitter.com/n8HWaiMqkK
— ISHA (@ISHA_London) June 3, 2024

There are 8.5M people in England who can’t access housing they need. The total cost to our society caused by poor housing is estimated £18.5BN. This is why we are supporting the @natfednews #planforhousing.

Read more here https://t.co/HuWpDwp3N8 pic.twitter.com/AFvzeZNYgo
— Weaver Vale Housing Trust (@weavervale) May 30, 2024

We are supporting the National Housing Federation’s #Planforhousing campaign.

England is currently in a housing crisis and in the lead up to the next general election, we are calling for a long-term plan to fix this housing emergency.https://t.co/lfl4xmepyE pic.twitter.com/iSpfWmCuye
— Wandle HA (@WandleHA) May 30, 2024

Thanks to @JoGreatwell @Gen_Kitchen_WR and @hardy_phil for joining @Juliecdoyle at our Rushden office for an engaging discussion about the need for a long-term #PlanForHousing and how the sector can work closely with the next government to achieve this. pic.twitter.com/Oi8ChdCJ6Y
— Longhurst Group (@LonghurstGroup) May 29, 2024

We’re building 44 homes as part of a 100% affordable development with AJC group in #Poole🏘️

One and two-bedroom apartments which will be for #sharedownership and #affordable rent.

We're supporting @natfednews long-term #PlanforHousing.

More: https://t.co/FqtQiOR0Ie #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/TxHBiRU4Hd
— Abri (@abrigroup) May 27, 2024

Improving the safety, quality and energy efficiency of homes benefits residents as well as helping the transition to a net zero economy. A long-term #PlanForHousing will ensure a warm and decent home for seven million more families by 2035. @natfednews pic.twitter.com/9fCJmX0yzS
— Paradigm Housing (@ParadigmHousing) May 23, 2024

Fab to join the Local Space board & exec team in East London. Love their approach to partnership with #localgov

Thanks to @victor_dacunha & the board for supporting our general election campaign calling on all political parties to commit to a long-term
 #PlanForHousing 🏡 pic.twitter.com/UcFzx82EI8
— Kate Henderson (@KateNHF) May 23, 2024

Such a brilliant turnout for @natfednews London Leader’s Forum today.

Thank you all for braving the rain for a photo and more importantly thanks so much supporting our campaign for a long-term #PlanForHousing 🏡 pic.twitter.com/JeLYopFCyV
— Kate Henderson (@KateNHF) May 22, 2024

Great to be in #Westminster discussing why we need a long-term #PlanForHousing 🏡

Thank you @mattwarman, @LonghurstGroup and @LBGplc for hosting today’s event about solutions to the #housingcrisis pic.twitter.com/Ny02CDBHRD
— Kate Henderson (@KateNHF) May 22, 2024

We are delighted to be supporting @natfednews long-term #PlanForHousing and helping to deliver more social rented homes. pic.twitter.com/l1Z1n6Toh0
— Home Group (@homegroup) April 18, 2024

In the media

Here's look at the impact our #PlanForHousing efforts have had in the media.

Supported housing in crisis

New NHF research shows nearly one in three supported housing providers in England have been forced to close due to the worsening impacts of funding cuts and rising costs.

BBC Online and BBC Breakfast. shared our new research.

Joint research with Shelter

Research from Shelter and the National Housing Federation, carried out by CEBR, shows that building 90,000 social rented homes would add £51.2bn to the economy.

The Daily Mail Online and The Independent covered our report, emphasizing that investing in social housing could inject £50 billion into the economy.

Social housing and the economy

The Economic Impact of Building social Housing study revealed that spending on UK social housing yields long-term savings for taxpayers.

The Financial Times highlighted this critical finding and Baroness Taylor of Stevenage OBE reference the research in the House of Lords.

Decarbonisation and retrofitting

We’re committed to a social housing renewal plan within the first six months of the new government.

National Housing Federation CEO Kate Henderson’s New Statesman article advocated for retrofitting homes to achieve sustainability.

Urgent warning on homelessness

In a joint letter to political leaders, we sounded the alarm: by 2030, seven children in every school could face homelessness.

The Mirror underscored the urgency of safeguarding their futures.

Navigating housing challenges

Our resolve remains unwavering as we tackle housing damage head-on.

Inside Housing featured Kate’s insightful commentary on the housing crisis, reflecting on 15 years of policy decisions.

Housebuilding

Joint research by the NHF and Savills highlights housebuilding targets will be missed without more funding for affordable homes.

The Financial Times reported that England’s new home construction may fall short of official targets.

Addressing waiting lists

New analysis of the latest affordable housing figures cast a bleak picture for the availability of social housing. It could take years for households, joining the waiting list, to be offered a home.

The Big Issue and The Independant highlighted the staggering wait times for social housing. Bracknell News, Express & Star and the York Press shed light on the length of the lists in their area.

Rural homes

New analysis by the National Housing Federation (NHF) to mark Rural Housing Week has found that the number of rural households on local authority waiting lists in England increased by 31% between 2019 and 2022, far exceeding the increase in predominantly urban areas of 3%.

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive at the NHF, was interviewed on BBC Breakfast to discuss rural housing.

Vote polling

A recent YouvGov poll commissioned by the National Housing Federation shows that the majority (52%) of Conservative voters in Britain believe we are not building enough social housing while around half (48%) think the government should prioritise building social housing over homes for sale (28%) or private rent (8%).

Reported in Inside Housing.

Overcrowding

More than 310,000 children (313,244) in England are forced to share beds with other family members, due to severe overcrowding, caused by a critical shortage of affordable homes. This is according to a new report published by the National Housing Federation.

The BBC, Channel 4 News and Sky News shared the report.

Who to speak to

Jo Allen, Head of Member Relations

07919 111 060

Jo.Allen@housing.org.uk

@natfedJo