Constructing homes, rebuilding lives: Settled housing SROI

What is the true value of a settled home?

All those involved in the delivery of housing understand that the impact of moving people into a new home goes above and beyond fulfilling a practical housing need. However, until now, little has been done to quantify this impact.

Local authorities are working hard to meet local housing needs, but with growing demand outpacing supply, the numbers of families turning to local authorities for help is growing. This includes a substantial increase in the number of families being housed in Temporary Accommodation (TA).

We came together with consultancy Akerlof to undertake this Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, with the aim of supporting the delivery of high-quality, new social homes at pace to address the current structural deficit and resultant TA crisis.

The financial rental cost of housing people in TA is known and often cited, yet research on the more holistic social and economic impact of moving people into settled accommodation is less available. This means we under-value the true impact of delivering homes.

Using a rigorous SROI methodology this research shows that the monetary value of moving one individual out of temporary accommodation and into a settled home is £67,069. This is more than just a number; it’s the currency of positive change.

Engagement with residents and key stakeholders involved in the delivery of new homes was critical to our research, painting a vivid and realistic picture of the profound impact a new home can have.

Our research strengthens the case for increased delivery of high-quality social housing to be delivered at a pace. Expediting access to quality housing will realise social impact at scale, which in turn should drive a focus on efficient and productive construction approaches, including Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

This research also provides evidence of what matters most for residents, helping guide the design and delivery of new homes to maximise the social and economic impact.

Our Constructing homes, rebuilding lives report is freely available to download.