Crisis partnership

Crisis and Lloyds Banking Group estimate an additional one million homes for social rent are needed to help overcome the shortage that is leaving hundreds of thousands of people trapped in homelessness.

Government policy will have a crucial role to play in making progress towards this ambition, including unlocking private sector capital. Below, we set out nine policy proposals that will help.

We recognise that this would mean a radical shift, and believe this scale of ambition and intervention is what is needed to alleviate increasing pressures in the housing market. 

1. Increase grant subsidy for social housing. Any viable package of solutions to build one million social homes must feature an increase in grant subsidy available to social housing providers. This, in turn, will help leverage increased private capital into the social housing sector.
2. Extend long-term rent settlements in England to 2035, with no mid-term changes.
3. Take steps to preserve the social housing the UK already has.
4. Empower Homes England to co-ordinate the assembly, remediation, servicing and consent procurement of public and private land for social and affordable homes.
5. Set out a requirement in England for local planning authorities to conduct robust local needs assessments and set an optimum local tenure mix that includes social renting in local plans, including homelessness needs.
6. Invest to increase the capacity and capabilities of local planning across Great Britain, so that projects can be approved, started and delivered in an efficient and timely way.
7. Develop a National Empty Homes Initiative in England backed by a flexible national funding programme, in partnership with organisations best placed to deliver its work.
8. Set a clear pathway in England for the decarbonisation of homes for social rent by confirming the introduction of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
9. Increase provision for training in retrofit and new construction techniques to expedite the building process and reduce costs.

The Changing Lives grant programme helps people experiencing homelessness to progress into education, employment and to start up small businesses in a range of industries.

Examples of some individuals who have benefited: 

• A fitness instructor was helped to get their business set up. They now have all classes fully booked and they have been successful in securing a second grant to fund their expansion into a larger venue. This will also open up the possibility to employ another member of staff and offer a wider variety of classes. 
• With funding, a grantee was able to build on their existing skills to become a professional advocate for people experiencing homelessness at tribunal level. This person has already spoken in Scottish Parliament to ministers advocating for policy changes.
• An entrepreneur secured a grant to get started with their street food business, including a food cart, tyres and a coffee machine. This person is also now taking part in a mentoring scheme with Lloyds Banking Group colleagues.

Crisis at Christmas: Shilen's story

"As volunteering leader of our colleague Hindu Network, I organised a bunch of volunteers to help at the Crisis Christmas Hotel.

I believe that everybody should be entitled to shelter and food. I volunteered to be able to devote my time to give something to those who are suffering and also be a role model to raise awareness of the issue. It was incredibly rewarding. 

At the hotel, I got involved in a range of activities, including serving lunch and soft/hot drinks at the drinks bar and assisting with clearing rubbish from communal areas. 

The best bit was serving hot drinks at the bar – it was a welcomed opportunity to meet a number of guests. I learnt how to make guests feel welcome in a short space of time as well as how to make teas and coffees at pace!"