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Social Work vocabulary · Welfare and Benefits

Social housing

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounCommon term

In social work, social housing means: Homes owned by local authorities or non-profit housing associations and rented at lower, affordable rents to people in housing need.

In Turkish: sosyal konut, kamu konutu

How it is used

British English; US English says public housing or affordable housing. People apply to join the housing register or waiting list, and social workers may support a housing application on medical or social grounds.

Example sentences

  1. The family has been on the waiting list for social housing for three years.

  2. I wrote a letter supporting her application for social housing on medical grounds.

Common collocations

  • social housing waiting list
  • apply for social housing
  • social housing tenant
  • shortage of social housing
  • homelessnessNot having a safe, secure and suitable place to live, from sleeping on the street to staying in temporary or overcrowded accommodation.
  • povertyNot having enough money or resources to meet basic needs such as food, housing and heating, or to take part in normal life in society.
  • benefitsMoney or other support paid by the state to people who are unemployed, ill, disabled, caring for someone or on a low income.
  • eligibilityMeeting the conditions, such as age, income, need or residence, that are required to receive a service or payment.

More terms: Welfare and Benefits

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