Introduction
Housing is never just about buildings. It’s about the stability, opportunity and sense of belonging that secure homes create. At a time when the role of social housing is being questioned, challenged, and reshaped, this event offers space to reflect on where we’ve come from, what we’ve learned, and where we might go next.
What You’ll Learn
- A clearer understanding of why housing must be seen as more than just shelter.
- Insights into the decline—and ongoing importance—of social housing in the UK.
- Practical examples of the “Housing Plus” model in action.
- New thinking on the role of social landlords as community anchors.
- Perspectives from resident voices and frontline experience.
- Ideas for shaping the future direction of housing policy and practice.
Themes We’ll Cover
- Housing is More Than Shelter
- The Decline and Importance of Social Housing
- The “Housing Plus” Model
- Social Landlords as Community Anchors
- Learning from Experience and Resident Voices
- Future Directions (and more)
About the Speaker
Professor Anne Power CBE is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Head of Housing and Communities. She has worked on housing and urban regeneration for over five decades, beginning in Chicago with Martin Luther King’s ‘End Slums’ campaign. Anne later ran the UK’s Priority Estates Project (1979–89), founded the National Communities Resource Centre at Trafford Hall in 1991 (where she is now Chair), and served as a Commissioner on the Sustainable Development Commission (2000–09). Anne’s career has been dedicated to understanding housing as a foundation for stronger, fairer communities.
