Sheffield councillor warns latest housing investment 'won't suddenly resolve homelessness'
“This will not suddenly resolve homelessness or housing waiting lists”
The chair of Sheffield City Council’s housing committee has said he’s glad housing concerns have “risen up the Government’s agenda” after it was announced that South Yorkshire is set to benefit from a £249 million investment - but warns this isn’t a quick fix.
Green Party councillor Douglas Johnson shared his thoughts after the Government revealed more than 2,200 new social and affordable homes are on their way to South Yorkshire.
While Coun Johnson is chair of the city’s housing policy committee, he clarifies that his opinions are that of a councillor, not official council policy.
“It’s welcome news that the Government is releasing the first part of the funding for affordable housing that they agreed previously,” he said.
“Housing has risen up the Government’s agenda to recognise the crisis that it is today.
“All the same, this will not suddenly resolve homelessness or housing waiting lists. This isn’t new funding and is only the first instalment of what the Government committed to. Some of this money is going to profit-making private sector developers and only a tiny amount is going to just three councils - Cambridge, Newcastle and Eastleigh. Sheffield City Council is not getting any new money for housing.”
This latest funding is the first wave of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), agreed upon in November 2025 and set to see £39 billion invested in housing over the next 10 years.
While £249 million has been pledged to South Yorkshire, details of how that will be shared across the region have yet to be agreed.
Coun Johnson added: “I hope Sheffield should benefit from some of the money going to housing associations that also operate in the city, out of the estimated £250 million for housing in South Yorkshire.
“I would very much like to see investment in council housing so that there are safe, secure homes for the future.
“The last Green Party manifesto offered a pledge to provide 150,000 new social homes every year through new-building, buying properties and ending the individual right to buy, to keep social homes for local communities in perpetuity.”