Why it matters: While Ipswich residents still face significant waits for social housing, they're in a much better position than many areas where families can wait decades for a suitable home.
By the numbers:
3.9 years: Average wait for a three-bedroom social home in Ipswich
7.8 years: Average wait across England
27.6 years: Average wait in London
209th: Ipswich's ranking out of 290 local authorities (with 1st being the longest wait)
28th: Ipswich's ranking out of 45 areas in the East of England (with 1st being the longest wait)
The figures were calculated based on the average annual wait time from 2021-22 to 2023-24, assuming no new additions to the waiting list.
The big picture: The national waiting list for social housing has increased by 37% since 2015 — six times the rate of the overall waiting list — according to analysis by the National Housing Federation, Crisis and Shelter.
What they're saying: Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, called the situation "ludicrous", insisting that "Government must commit to building social housing at scale and provide the necessary investment so that we can create a stronger society where everyone has the foundation of a safe home."
The other side: A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said the findings of the report "highlight the scale and devastating impact of the social housing crisis" and that the government is "taking urgent action to fix this through our Plan for Change, injecting £2 billion to help deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, investing in homelessness services, and bringing forward overdue reforms to the Right to Buy scheme that will protect the stock of existing social housing."
The bottom line: While Ipswich families face long waits for social housing, they are in a relatively better position than many parts of the country, where the housing crisis has created decade-long or longer waits.
