On July 16th, 2024, the Nationwide Foundation released a press release calling on the new government to take decisive action and commit to a long-term plan to reform the UK’s housing system. This call to action comes in the wake of a new government taking office in Westminster.
The charitable foundation, dedicated to funding groundbreaking research, innovation, and campaigning in the housing sector, has put forth five clear recommendations for change. These recommendations aim to address the housing crisis that has been plaguing the nation for decades.
The Nationwide Foundation is urging the new government to move away from the piecemeal housing policies of the past and instead create a comprehensive, long-term strategy to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes, transform the private rented sector, support community-led housing, and prioritize health promotion in housing policy.
The foundation emphasizes that a decent and affordable home is the foundation for life, work, and wellbeing. However, housing data consistently reveals the harsh realities faced by millions of people across the UK. For example, over 130,000 children currently live in temporary accommodation, one in five privately rented homes do not meet basic safety and decency standards, and one in every 182 people are homeless.
The Nationwide Foundation’s proposal, titled “Decent and Affordable Homes for All: Five Proposals for a Fairer Housing System,” outlines five main recommendations for the new government to consider. These recommendations have been developed through decades of research and experience, in collaboration with pioneers in the housing sector. The proposal also highlights innovative projects funded by the foundation that aim to redesign the current housing system.
In addition to the five main proposals, the Nationwide Foundation also suggests tactical solutions for the government to consider, such as supporting the conversion of private rented sector properties to social or genuinely affordable rented homes and replacing “affordable rent” with income-linked “living rent.”
The central request of the Nationwide Foundation, as well as over 30 housing organizations, is for the new government and all political parties to work together in establishing a long-term strategy for the housing sector. This vision is also at the core of the “Homes for All” campaign, launched by the Nationwide Foundation and the Church of England in April 2024. The campaign has the support of over 30 housing organizations, including the National Housing Federation, the Chartered Institute for Housing, and Crisis.
Kate Markey, CEO of the Nationwide Foundation, emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the need for bold, systemic action from those in power. She believes that through the foundation’s recommendations, developed through extensive research and collaboration, real change is possible. She warns that anything less would be a disaster for people across the UK.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact Amy Kuczynski, Communications Manager for the Nationwide Foundation, at amy.kuczynski@nationwidefoundation.org.uk or 07385 110245.
Established in 1997 and funded by Nationwide Building Society, the Nationwide Foundation is an independent charity that aims to improve the lives of those most in need in the UK through grant-making and influencing work. The foundation takes a systemic approach and focuses on tackling the root causes of social issues, with a current focus on housing through its “Decent Affordable Homes” strategy. More information can be found on the Nationwide Foundation website.
The Homes for All campaign, developed by a coalition of the Church of England and the Nationwide Foundation, along with leading housing experts, aims to create a vision for England’s homes in which everyone has a safe, secure, affordable, quality place to live. The coalition believes this vision is achievable through cross-party commitment to a long-term strategy and the establishment of a Housing Strategy Committee to guide and assess government action. More information can be found on the Homes for All website.
