In 2024, more than 159,000 children in Great Britain were living in temporary accommodation. Many were forced to live in conditions that no child should experience, including black mould, damp, no cooking facilities and zero heating. These circumstances take a significant toll on physical health, mental wellbeing and life chances.

Habitat for Humanity works in over 70 countries around the world to address housing poverty and inequality. This global experience gives us a unique insight into the nature of the housing challenge and the impact good and bad housing can have. Poor housing increases the risk of mental and physical health conditions, exposure to violence and economic hardship. Our research in 2023 found that with meaningful investment, decent housing could add up to four years to global life expectancy.

Our latest research focuses particularly on the impact of inadequate housing on women and girls. We estimate that if current inadequate housing around the world was improved to provide a clean and safe environment, with access to water and sanitation, maternal facilities and tenure security, this would result in 20.3 million fewer cases of illness, 42.9 million fewer incidences of gender-based violence and one in four maternal deaths prevented.

The Effects on Children and Young People

We know that the impacts of insecure housing are particularly acute for children and young people. Research conducted by Habitat for Humanity in the US found that children in poor quality or insecure housing more frequently experienced depression and anxiety as well as showing more frequent signs of aggression and respiratory illnesses. The research showed that 39% of asthma in under-sixes was directly attributable to environmental sources.

Pre-schoolers in insecure accommodation were three or more times more likely to experience the most severe limitations in emotional, cognitive or behavioural development. Primary school students scored lower in reading and maths, and these behavioural and educational challenges followed through into adolescence.

Quality Housing, Lasting Impact and New Opportunities

Where improvements are made, the impacts are huge. Our colleagues at Habitat for Humanity Canada, recently evaluated over 600 families who had moved out of inadequate housing into affordable homes that meet their needs. The results were stark, with 73% reporting improved physical health,

79% reporting improved mental health and 50% identifying improvements in their children’s performance at school. On average, families saw a £5,900 increase in real income since moving into their Habitat home, compared with a £1,700 increase for similar renters over the same period. Rapidly increasing access to social housing is crucial in Great Britain. The lack of available housing is the reason people get stuck in temporary accommodation, so increasing the supply of genuinely affordable and appropriate homes is the only long-term solution.

In discussions around the pitfalls of temporary accommodation, the use of empty commercial buildings is often highlighted as an example of bad practice, where buildings are repurposed with minimal and inadequate adaptations. However, we believe this reputation means their potential is often overlooked. Where poor-quality temporary accommodation is created from empty non-residential buildings, it is often done by private landlords who have identified an opportunity to make a big profit. But when local authorities, housing associations and communities take the lead, it does not have to be that way.

We are about to publish new research showing the scale of the opportunity, we estimate that in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of non-residential buildings owned by local authorities in Great Britain that have been empty for more than 12 months. While not all will be suitable for housing, these buildings could provide thousands of social and affordable homes. The potential gets even bigger when we move beyond local authority-owned sites and look elsewhere in the public and private sectors.

A New Way Forward: Turning Research Into Action

Habitat for Humanity aims to move people out of temporary accommodation by shifting the narrative and changing practice on empty buildings. This is achieved through research and advocacy, alongside practical demonstrations of what is possible. Several retail units in Barking and Dagenham, East London, have already been converted into flats for care leavers, with projects now being developed across the country to explore how to convert challenging empty buildings using different partnership and funding models. A toolkit is available to download and will be updated as the project grows. Anyone interested in playing a practical role in growing social housing stock while meeting local needs and protecting the environment is warmly invited to connect.

To solve the housing crisis, we must think differently. Empty buildings can offer safe, affordable homes for those who need them most. With the right leadership and investment, these spaces can become a meaningful part of the solution.

Our Empty Spaces to Homes Toolkit is available to download here and will be regularly updated as the project grows. Anyone interested in playing a practical role in growing social housing stock while meeting local needs and protecting the environment is warmly invited to connect with our Empty Spaces to Homes team at: es2h@habitatforhumanity.org.uk