The Good Home Enquiry has revealed that 4 million homes in the UK fail to meet the basic standards of decency. Of that 4 million, 2 million homes contain a category 1 hazard, meaning that residents' health and safety is at risk. To put that into context, that's 1 house in every 10.
Here at Simon on the Streets, we don’t believe that anybody should be unsafe in the place they call home, and it’s concerns such as these that undoubtedly increases the risk of homelessness.
Let’s take a look at the issue in a little more detail.
Mouldy Britain
An unpleasant headline, but an accurate one. Despite boasting one of the largest economies in Europe, the UK is currently the holder of a more shameful record: some of the oldest and worst quality social housing.
According to Shelter, 1 in 5 renters are currently living with damp and mould in the UK, the effects of which can be dangerous and long-lasting. Children exposed to the spores can develop asthma and other respiratory problems, whilst those who already have such issues can find them worsened. The cost of poor social housing to the NHS has been estimated at £1.4 billion.
The cost was much higher for 2 year old Awaab Ishak and his family, and for the many other deaths caused as a result. In 2023 Britain, how this is being allowed to happen is simply unfathomable.
Government Inaction
Is the driving force behind the housing crisis and such poor living conditions a simple case of government inaction? Whilst that might be open to debate, it’s worth remembering that this topic is, unfortunately, not a new one.
Nearly six years have passed since the Grenfell disaster, and it remains a harrowing reminder of what the consequences of poor and dangerous social housing standards are. Six years on and some survivors are still looking to be rehoused.
In November, the housing minister himself Michael Gove said there hadn’t been “enough change since Grenfell”, a comment made even more frustrating when given by the government who have been in power ever since.
For years, the demand for social housing has been skyrocketing. Millions wait in line for what everyone deserves- a safe place to call home. The government’s response has been to cut the amount of money going into social housing, causing a decline in the amount available. Approximately 282,000 social homes have been lost whilst only 150,000 have been built in the same time.
Deadly consequences
With housing becoming more and more unaffordable, there has been a sharp rise in homelessness across the UK. There are currently 271,000 people facing homelessness, around 120,000 of whom are children.
1,300 people facing homelessness died in 2022. That’s a shocking 85% increase since 2019. It is absolutely imperative that the government looks to implement policies that put a stop to this, and prevent further deaths.
Money has to be put back into social housing to give those in need a safe place to live. Landlords must be placed under higher levels of scrutiny in how they maintain their properties, and encouraged to keep prices affordable.
Until then, the work of charities like Simon on the Streets remains absolutely vital. We’re as dedicated as ever to providing practical and emotional support to those facing homelessness, so we can break the cycle and make a change.
Help us in our mission by getting involved - there are so many ways to help. For more details, don’t hesitate to contact us. Follow us across our social media channels to stay up to date with the latest.