Research by Shelter shows it would take more than a century to clear social housing waiting lists in England at the current rate of new home delivery. The charity reported over 1.3 million households on waiting lists, while only 12,198 social homes were completed last year by councils, housing associations and developers. This means roughly 110 households wait for each new unit, requiring 119 years to clear the backlog at the present pace. Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliott warned that continued slow delivery means no one alive today will see the end of the housing emergency. She added that without more social homes, communities will suffer and children will face generational homelessness. Data from the charity indicate a 64 percent drop in annual social rent homes over 15 years, alongside a 155 percent rise in homeless households in temporary accommodation. No social homes were built in the past two years in 20 percent of council areas, and fewer than 10 were completed in 30 percent of areas. At the 1967 peak, social rent accounted for 46 percent of new homes, nearly all delivered by councils. Suzanne Muna of the Social Housing Action Campaign described the figures as exposing flawed government targets and called for major sustained investment in council housing. Shelter noted that a £29 billion debt imposed on local authorities in 2012 limits their building capacity, leading to more right-to-buy sales than replacements. The government has pledged 300,000 new social and affordable homes, with 180,000 for social rent, supported by a £39 billion programme and new legislation.
