Decent and affordable homes make lives better - providing the safe and secure foundation all need.
But shortages and unequal access mean too many people (often the most vulnerable) are forced to live in overpriced, insecure and poor-quality homes.
The whole country is paying the price for this. Poor housing costs the NHS £1.4 billion each year. It negatively impacts a child’s education and has long-term effects on incomes and employment.
At the heart of the issue is supply - housebuilding has failed to keep pace with demand for years. Latest forecasts suggest we could see over 300,000 GB households experiencing the worst forms of homelessness in 2023. A shocking one in five children are living in overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable homes.
The CIH is urging all political parties to commit to a long-term plan for housing which recognises it as the foundation for creating healthy and sustainable communities.
This can be achieved with a focus on more homes and better homes. The 10 point plan the CIH has published unpacks this further, with more detail set out in a Strategy for housing.
