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Affordable Housing for Young People: Facts & Statistics 2026

Housing in crisis

YMCA is the largest charitable provider of supported housing for young people in England and Wales.

Through our work with young people, we have identified the challenge in helping residents transition out of supported housing and into independent accommodation, due to the severe shortage in affordable and social housing.

Demand far outstrips supply across the country, leaving thousands of young people stuck with nowhere to move on to.

YMCA’s #BuildingFutures ambition sets a bold vision to create 10,000 new homes for young people and confront the housing crisis that is holding an entire generation back.

Learn more about #BuildingFutures

In 2026, YMCA polling revealed the scale of the challenge facing young people across England and Wales, identifying that:

struggle to raise the five week upfront deposit needed to secure a home

have had to borrow money simply to pay their rent

were forced to move in the last three years because their rent became unaffordable

say housing costs have stopped them taking the next step in life – including work, education or independence

of those planning to move say affordability is the single biggest barrier.

What is affordable and move-on housing?

Affordable housing refers to that which is let at social and intermediate rent (less than 80% of market rates). Depending on the financial and support structure, some move-on schemes can operate flexible rent models whereby resident scan move between paying higher supported accommodation rents through Housing Benefit and lower affordable rents once transitioning into employment and support is reduced.

YMCA affordable housing models vary by location, but rent is typically less than 80% of market rates.

Move-on housing is designed to bridge the gap between intensive supported accommodation and the private rented sector or long term social housing, helping disadvantaged young people transition into independent living. Keeping rents low allows residents in move-on housing to take their first steps into training, education or employment while still being able to manage their bills. This means they can settle, find stability and benefit from the value of working. Tenure varies across YMCA schemes, but this stepping-stonelike housing is typically intended to accommodate a young person for a few years on their route to independence beyond YMCA.

Delivering new affordable homes for young people

Charity Bank kindly sponsors this report. Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank for charities, social enterprises and people who want to make the world a better place. It uses its savers’ money to provide much-needed loans to UK organisations working to drive positive social change – bringing benefits for people, communities, and the environment.

Read the full report

Our recommendations

For YMCA to realise its ambition of creating 10,000 new homes for young people, delivering at the scale and pace to help solve current housing crisis, the Government and its agencies must:

Increase grant rates for affordable house builders and allow funding
Homes England milestone funding needs to be front-loaded to enable development
Support access to public land for transitional affordable housing
Streamline and simplify the planning process for transitional affordable housing schemes
Provide funding for pre-development costs e.g. feasibility study costs
Create more advantageous borrowing rates for affordable housebuilders
Tackle the wider shortage of affordable housing