‘Homelessness in the UK extends far beyond the visible crisis of rough sleeping. It also encompasses families consigned to unsuitable temporary accommodation, individuals relegated to overcrowded hostels, and thousands trapped in an unrelenting cycle of instability. Despite years of political pledges and piecemeal initiatives, homelessness remains an urgent and pervasive issue. In 2023, 16 people per 100,000 were living on the streets, whilst an alarming 410 per 100,000 were in temporary accommodation or shelters. These figures position the UK among the developed world’s highest rates of homelessness – a national disgrace that demands comprehensive reform. I propose that a nationwide implementation of the ‘Housing First’ model offers the most effective solution to tackling this entrenched social crisis. 

The structural deficiencies of the UK’s housing system can be largely attributed to the Housing Act of 1980, which introduced the Right to Buy scheme. Whilst this legislation facilitated council tenants’ access to homeownership by offering properties at discounted rates, successive governments failed to replenish the depleted stock of affordable housing. This shortfall has been compounded over decades and left thousands without access to secure accommodation, becoming a key driver of homelessness. Instead of addressing this systemic issue, recent policy efforts have disproportionately focused on short-term emergency measures, such as the last Conservative government, which pledged to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of their parliamentary term. Rough sleeping, defined as the practice of individuals being forced to sleep on the streets due to the absence of adequate shelter, is indisputably a pertinent issue, but has mistakenly been addressed in isolation. This failure to adopt a holistic approach linking rough sleeping to the broader housing crisis undermined the ambitions of the Conservative government and instead permitted the percentage of rough sleepers in the UK to continue to rise. 

However, more recently, the Labour government has unveiled an ambitious strategy to rectify the deteriorating housing system by committing to the construction of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. Central to this strategy is the revised National Planning Policy Framework, which promises to streamline planning restrictions and impose mandatory housing targets on local councils. This renewed political focus presents a valuable opportunity for systemic reform and has laid the groundwork for a transformative homelessness strategy – namely, a nationwide adoption of the Housing First model.

The Housing First model is grounded in the principle that housing is a fundamental human right, with tenancy contingent solely on the individual’s willingness to uphold its basic responsibilities. This approach sharply diverges from traditional ‘treatment-first’ models, which often require individuals to resolve personal challenges – such as mental health issues or substance dependency – before gaining access to stable housing. In contrast, Housing First prioritises immediate access to stable accommodation, allowing individuals to confront these challenges from a position of stability and dignity. Originating in the pioneering work of Canadian psychologist Dr Sam Tsemberis, this model has consistently achieved impressive outcomes, with housing retention rates typically exceeding 80%. By recognising housing as a cornerstone for recovery, the model has proven to be both compassionate and cost-effective, fostering greater societal cohesion and reducing systemic inequalities. 

Finland serves as a compelling case in demonstrating the potential of the Housing First model. Since its nationwide adoption in 2008, Finland has restructured its approach to homelessness through collaborative efforts involving the state, cities, municipalities, and local NGOs, replacing reliance on short-term shelters with the provision of affordable, long-term housing. Central to this success has been the contribution of organisations like Y-Säätiö, which supplied substantial sources of housing for the initiative. As a result, long-term homelessness in Finland declined by 68% between 2008 and 2022. This international example holds particular relevance for the UK, where its near-identical ranking to Finland on the Human Development Index, marked at 0.94 and 0.942, respectively, indicates comparable structural and social conditions. The alignment in developmental challenges, such as addressing social inequalities, suggests that the UK could similarly benefit from adopting Housing First at a national scale and potentially emulate Finland’s success in reducing homelessness.

The UK can further draw on examples of this policy’s success closer to home, where the efficacy of Housing First has already been demonstrated in local UK contexts. Greater Manchester, for example, launched a Housing First pilot in 2019, which successfully provided homes for over 400 individuals. This local success has emboldened Mayor Andy Burnham to publicly affirm his ambition to turn the pioneering pilot into a guiding national philosophy for tackling homelessness on a broader scale. Speaking at a conference arranged by Greater Manchester Local Authority in September 2024, Burnham called for the £75 million annually spent on temporary accommodation to instead be redirected towards a national Housing First approach. This initiative garnered support from Finland’s Ambassador to the UK, Jukka Siukosaari, underscoring the model’s viability in the British context and the support local authorities have already established in favour of this reform. These local successes should serve as proof of concept to British policymakers, reducing the perceived risks of scaling the model nationally and exemplifying the improvements it could initiate across the country.

Policy Recommendation: Institutionalising Housing First  

Whilst local pilot schemes have demonstrated significant potential, their success is limited by the lack of a cohesive national framework. Short-term funding cycles and the fragmented nature of pilot initiatives undermine Housing First’s core principle: the provision of flexible, open-ended support tailored to individual needs. To capitalise on the transformative effects of this model in tackling homelessness, I recommend appointing a national director for Housing First. This position would offer strategic leadership, ensure the continuation of stable funding, and coordinate efforts with national housing associations, whose involvement is crucial in ensuring a sufficient supply of affordable housing. Electing a dedicated director would not only solidify the government’s commitment to comprehensive reform but also instil confidence among stakeholders, creating the foundations for an effective and sustainable policy.

 Homelessness in the UK is a moral and social failing that demands decisive action. The Housing First model, with its proven success both internationally and domestically, offers a powerful framework for addressing the crisis, facilitated by recent pledges committing to building more affordable housing. By drawing on Finland’s experience and leveraging local successes, the UK can combat the pronounced injustice of homelessness, forging a path towards a more equitable and cohesive society. After years of unsuccessful measures, which have continued to compound the socio-economic costs of homelessness,  it has never been more imperative for the government to take transformative action and nationalise Housing First policy initiatives.