Housing crisis survey 2024
Cornwall is facing a growing housing crisis. Many local people are struggling to find affordable homes, leading to an alarming rise in homelessness. In order to guide our philanthropic giving, Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF) undertook a survey of voluntary organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness, and well as those supporting community-led housing developments.
These insights will inform the development of a new Housing Crisis Fund that seeks to reduce homelessness and improve access to community-owned, affordable housing in Cornwall.
We had 39 responses to the survey from leaders across the voluntary sector. 85% of respondents provide direct support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 5% of respondents develop community-owned, affordable housing, while 10% of respondents provide both housing development and direct support to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The survey underscores a deepening housing crisis in Cornwall, where local residents struggle to find affordable housing amidst rising homelessness rates. The survey revealed severe resource strains as demand for homelessness support services has soared by over 140% since 2020. This increase contrasts sharply with stagnant or reduced funding for many organisations, leading to critical issues such as staff burnout.
Key challenges highlighted include:
Inadequate Affordable Housing: Limited affordable and social housing, compounded by rising rental costs and the prevalence of short-term rentals like Airbnbs, severely restricts housing availability, particularly for low-income residents.
Complex and Unmet Needs: Nearly all surveyed organisations reported a rise in clients with complex needs, including mental health issues, substance abuse, and the challenge of homelessness among employed individuals.
Underfunded Crisis and Prevention Services: Demand for funding significantly outstrips availability, with organisations calling for more flexible, multi-year, and substantial grants to sustainably address these growing needs.
Click here to download a PDF of our Housing Crisis Survey 2024 (834kbs)
