Lloyds Banking Group and the charity Crisis are demanding more genuinely affordable homes to be made available to those on the lowest income.
In a joint statement the parties stressed that access to decent quality homes is a fundamental part of solving homelessness. But pointed out that good quality social housing in the UK is becoming increasingly scarce, with not enough homes being built to replace those that are sold or demolished, and with too many homes in disrepair and in poor condition.
With a severe shortage of good, genuinely affordable homes, millions of people across the UK are trapped in poor quality housing.
Lloyds Banking Group chief executive Charlie Nunn commented: “The lack of genuinely affordable housing in our communities means that too many people are living in insecure or poor-quality conditions. Temporary accommodation should be a short-term measure but is increasingly becoming the default solution.
“We have partnered Crisis in calling for one million more homes for social rent by 2033 and, this World Homeless Day, want to continue working with leaders across the housing sector, UK cities and regions in order to help everyone access a safe and lasting home.”
Lloyds Banking Group continues to support housing associations, working closely with them to innovate and support new models of social housing (including the need for retrofit and sustainability of new builds).
At this week’s party conference Labour outlined plans to allow more building on parts of the green belt as a move to develop the “grey belt” – meaning the less attractive areas of the green belt such as scrubland and car parks.
Labour has pledged that half of homes built on this ‘grey belt’ will be sold at an affordable price.
Labour has also said it will run a six-month consultation to pinpoint suitable sites for new towns and areas with significant “unmet housing need”.
Such areas are believed to include Cambridge and around Milton Keynes, with many other potential sites being considered.
