The Fusion21 Foundation is delighted to continue its commitment to ending furniture poverty by match-funding a new Social Housing Strategy and Partnerships Lead role at End Furniture Poverty (EFP).
Our £75,000 backing supports a dedicated post to help social landlords launch furnished tenancy schemes, develop metrics to track tenancy sustainment, voids, arrears, and tenant satisfaction, whilst sharing best practice to drive sector-wide learning.
This position builds on the Foundation’s earlier investment in EFP’s Blueprint for Furniture Provision in Social Housing, which has recently been updated to provide landlords with the latest practical guidance on setting up effective furniture provision schemes, recovering costs through service charges, and improving tenancy sustainability.
Jo Hannan, Fusion21 Foundation Manager said: “The Foundation’s ongoing support reflects our commitment to tackling furniture poverty through practical, sustainable solutions. One of our main objectives is to make a visible impact on financial inclusion and resilience, and the Blueprint’s findings continue to highlight how urgent this issue is — showing that around 50% of social housing tenants are living in poverty and unable to afford basic furniture or white goods.
“It’s encouraging to see more housing associations addressing these challenges, but as the cost-of-living crisis continues, more still needs to be done. This new role will contribute to giving landlords the guidance and tools they need to develop practical, lasting solutions.”
Claire Donovan, End Furniture Poverty Director, added: "We’ve been supporting social landlords interested in furnished tenancies for several years, helping them prepare business cases and demonstrate the benefits for both tenants and landlords.
“Thanks to funding from the Fusion21 Foundation, we’ve taken this work to a new level. We’ll continue engaging with landlords and making a compelling case for every social landlord to provide essential furniture to their tenants. This ongoing support is vital in driving practical, sustainable change across the sector.”
Download the Blueprint here.
All views expressed in the report are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Fusion21 Foundation.
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