The UK government has announced the extension of the Four Million Homes programme; an initiative that aims to build knowledge and action for change in social housing across England.
Four Million Homes provides social housing residents with guidance, information and training about their rights and how to stand up for them.
The government’s decision to extend the Four Million Homes programme was announced in Parliament last week by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, when she delivered the government’s official response to the Grenfell Inquiry’s Phase 2 Report.
In the past two years, the programme has trained 3000 residents and given information to hundreds of thousands through social media and the Four Million Homes website. This extension ensures that more residents will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of their rights within social housing, empowering them to create positive change in their housing and communities
The extended Four Million Homes programme will include a review and expansion of its training content, in response to new requirements such as Awaab’s Law. It will continue its monthly topic-based webinar sessions, giving residents the opportunity to interact with officials and experts, share experiences and learn practical strategies. It will also build on its online offer, using social media content and short, accessible guides to ensure that as many residents of the four million social homes in England have access to the information required to exercise their rights and hold their landlords to account.
Residents who participate in the programme leave feeling more confident, skilled and inspired to make a difference. Feedback from participants has included:
“It’s made me feel empowered, When I came for the first time, I was at a really low point and started to feel that it was acceptable, how my housing is and how my landlord is treating me. It made me realise that it isn’t acceptable”
“I learnt that I have rights as a tenant and how to voice my issues with my landlord”
Helen Bartlett, Four Million Homes Programme Manager, said:
“All of the team at Four Million Homes are delighted that the government has shown its continued support for the vitally important work that Four Million Homes provides to social housing residents about their rights and their landlords responsibilities”
Residents and social housing provider supporters interested in participating in the programme can sign up for the newsletter and access resources on the official Four Million Homes website at www.fourmillionhomes.org.