Housing associations claim homes are at the heart of Covid-19 recovery

Yorkshire Housing and South Yorkshire Housing Association have joined the UK-wide #HomesAtTheHeart campaign, calling for investment in social housing and homes should be at the heart of the UK’s Coronavirus recovery.

Last year, housing associations built more than a quarter of all homes in England. This added an estimated £2.4bn to the national economy and supported more than 43,500 jobs.

Over the last two years, South Yorkshire Housing Association has created over 300 new homes in Sheffield City Region. And, during lockdown worked with over 3,000 individuals to stay safe, well and independent in its supported housing, extra-care homes, and services and support in people’s homes and communities.

While Yorkshire Housing has plans to build 8,000 new homes over the next decade with a focus on homes for rent and low-cost ownership. They currently have a £55m development in Sherburn-in-Elmet which will deliver 270 new homes and a £13.5m development in West Park Grange, Leeds which will deliver 50 new homes this year.

This isn’t the first time Yorkshire Housing and South Yorkshire Housing Association have come together, as they have also joined with three other housing associations to create Forge New Homes – an innovative partnership to increase the supply of affordable new homes across the Sheffield City Region.

Nick Atkin, Yorkshire Housing

“It’s clear that the social housing sector offers ready-made and proven solutions for a government looking to build, build, build as part of generating an economic stimulus. This campaign highlights how housing associations can be major players in providing much-needed homes across the country, tackling the housing crisis whilst also helping to drive the economic recovery.”

Tony Stacey, South Yorkshire Housing Association

“Investing in housing associations builds homes and communities where people can really settle and flourish.”