How to solve the housing crisis and reduce homelessness

On Wednesday, 9 July, the GM Policy Hub hosted a seminar which explored how local authorities can set, review, and address their climate change targets.

In England, there are 1.3 million households on social housing waiting lists, and 109,000 households - including 150,000 children - living in temporary accommodation, the highest figures since records began in 1998. 

Manchester, despite its booming economy over the last 25 years, had the third highest local rate of homelessness outside of London in 2024, and the rate of people living in temporary accommodation was three times the national average in 2022.  

What can be done to change this, both with new regeneration schemes and existing housing? How can local government ensure we have enough safe, secure, and affordable homes?

Dr Isis Barei-Guyot, Lecturer in Urban Development at the Global Development Institute, explored the nature of Manchester’s housing crisis and discussed how local and regional policymakers can work together to create sustainable homes for social rent.