Shelter has announced a new long-term partnership with IKEA with the aim of addressing the housing emergency in the UK.

Over the course of the partnership, the two organisations hope to create systemic change to address the housing emergency in the UK, calling on the Government to build 90,000 social homes a year by 2030.

IKEA and Shelter will launch a series of initiatives to help those affected by the housing emergency in IKEA’s local communities and beyond, aiming to increase access to support and opportunities.

From early 2023, IKEA and Shelter will train co-workers to become ‘Life at Home Experts’, and help people in precarious housing situations to understand their rights and keep hold of their homes before they reach crisis point. This is the first time Shelter has trialled the ‘Life at Home Experts’ initiative with any partner, which will see co-workers trained by the charity to understand local and national housing issues and rights.

IKEA will also fund Housing Rights Workers, who will be based in Shelter advice hubs. The initiative aims to reach people who need housing help in their local communities. By working more closely in neighbourhoods and providing early intervention, IKEA and Shelter hope to stop more people from losing their homes.

The launch of the partnership will also see the beginning of a flagship three-year research project following the journeys of families living in social housing. The in-depth findings will be used to inform the most pressing focuses that are needed for the partnership, and to help call on the government to deliver systemic change.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Rising rents, poor quality homes and spiralling living costs are pushing even more people to the brink of homelessness, making our work at Shelter as critical as ever. Every day we help hundreds of people and families impacted by the housing emergency, but we can’t do it alone.”

“Through our new partnership with IKEA we hope to reach even more people with vital housing advice and support at a time when they need it most. By working together our frontline advisers and IKEA’s ‘Life at Home Experts’ will work tirelessly to help as many people as possible to find or keep hold of a safe home, and together we will campaign for lasting change

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