Social housing is the name given to public sector council housing or homes provided by housing associations or registered social landlords.

Social housing was developed because housing is a basic human need. Everyone needs a home - but most people can't afford one. Homes are expensive. But if everyone pools their resources, everyone can have a home.

This is a model of collective provision. Social housing is a public service - provided by the community - usually the local authority - for the use of all, paid for by all.

The idea of social housing - like many of the ideas behind the welfare state - has been under attack for many years. Successive governments have preferred an alternative model of social housing. They believe that everyone should provide for themselves - by buying their own house - and social housing should only exist to prevent serious hardship at times when some people cannot cater for themselves.

What do you think? Which model do you agree with?

The early history of social housing is the story of a fight between these two models.

While the early tenants movement and the labour movement campaigned for general needs social housing - decent homes for all, paid for by all - the health reformers, and benevolent employers saw social housing as a stop-gap measure to prevent serious health problems and to ensure a well-disciplined workforce.

These two models of social housing are still argued over today.