The Almshouse Association responds to Rachel Reeves’ spending review on behalf of the Charity Housing Sector
It is all too easy to criticise any government – they are, as the saying goes, “damned if they do and damned if they don’t.” I will come to the ‘damned’ part shortly, but it’s important to first acknowledge what is most encouraging about this Budget: not so much the detail, but the message it conveys. It is rare to hear in government the promise of long-term investment — the recognition that some of society’s greatest challenges require generational solutions.
Many of the issues we face today – a shortage of genuinely affordable housing, gaps in social care provision, and a lack of adequate family support, to name a few — stem from decades of underinvestment in services that take time to bear fruit. Too often, government policy is driven by short-term returns, designed to show results within the political cycle rather than throughout a generation. So, on that message alone, it is heartening to hear a commitment to long-term planning.
Turning to the details: if funding for affordable housing is to be limited solely to Registered Providers and Housing Associations, government risks missing a significant opportunity. The charity housing sector represents thousands of grassroots community housing models that offer far more than a roof over someone’s head. They provide holistic, person-centred support that strengthens communities and delivers lasting social value.
We hope that, as the finer details emerge, government will continue to recognise the vital contribution of local charities — supporting those in greatest need and valuing the long-term social, economic, and human benefits of charity-led housing provision.
We maintain a good dialogue with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, hoping to free up access to funds and planning opportunities for charity housing to build more and continue to add life-changing value to thousands of people in housing need.
Nick Phillips, Chief Executive of The Almshouse Association
posted 12 June 2025