The research will gather stories from some of the almost 250,000 people waiting for social homes, and from the housing association and local authority staff managing the allocation of social housing to those waiting.

The organisations have now issued a call for participants.

Following the government’s announcement of a 26% cut to its affordable housebuilding programme for 2024-25, it is important now more than ever that we tell the stories of those affected by our lack of social housing. Through the research, we want to understand the circumstances of those needing and waiting for social homes, and the pressures faced by staff when allocating them.

The research is in its early stages. In the next few weeks, we will be looking to recruit participants for short interviews by telephone who are:

• Waiting for a new social home, including existing social tenants looking to transfer. We’d like to interview people with a range of different housing needs, from those experiencing homelessness to those living in overcrowded or otherwise unsuitable homes.
• Staff of housing associations and local authorities, managing housing lists and the allocation of social housing. We’d like to talk to staff from across the country, with different housing markets and crises.

The findings of the research will be published later this year and will guide our policy and campaigns, making change for people who need a decent, warm and affordable home.

SFHA would be grateful to all our members, and to their local authority partners, for helping us find participants for the research from their own staff and people on their housing waiting lists.

If you are on a housing list waiting for social housing, or are a housing association or local authority managing a housing list, and are interested in taking part in the research, please contact Bekah Ryder, Research and Insights Manager at Altair on bekah.ryder@altairltd.co.uk.