Social Housing Past Present & Future
This session is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of the sector’s rich history and its influence on the communities you serve today. By the end of the session, you will have a thorough understanding of how housing associations have evolved and the sector’s impact on communities and vice versa.
It will help you confidently navigate the sector’s complexities. This session is beneficial for both new Board Members and individuals who are just beginning their journey in the world of social housing.
You will Gain
The history of housing associations: housing associations can be traced back to almshouses in 1235, further evolving in the late 19th century to combat homelessness. Many of today’s prominent housing associations, such as Peabody, the Guinness Partnership, and Octavia, were founded during this period. While council house building expanded rapidly, housing associations began gaining prominence, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s when public concern about homelessness surged.
Evolution of housing policies and practices: explore how the 1974 Housing Act enabled housing associations to receive public funding, leading to an increase in the number of social housing homes. You will also learn about the late 1980s change, when many councils transferred their housing stock to housing associations, enabling them to borrow private capital and construct hundreds of thousands of new houses between 1990 and 2010.
Understanding the modern landscape: you will have an understanding of how housing associations have responded to the reduction in government funding for affordable housing since 2010 and how they have innovated by generating their own income through homes for sale and market rent, reinvesting the proceeds into building more social and affordable homes. We will also look into the contributions housing associations have made in recent years, building almost 20,000 social housing rented homes and tens of thousands of affordable rent and shared ownership homes.
Demystifying terminology: the world of social housing is filled with acronyms and technical terms; this session will break down the terminology, ensuring you’re well-equipped to understand and participate in discussions. We will guide you to a comprehensive glossary, an invaluable tool for expanding your knowledge of social housing.
Further Info
Presented by Deborah Walthorne
Thursday 4 September 2025 | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Our Webinars last 1 hour and are interactive, people can ask questions of the presenter and other attendees. If you or your organisation have a Webinar subscription you will be sent a link to join this Webinar prior to the session.
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