Local Space, a London based housing association that provides good quality homes to families who have experienced homelessness, has launched a new campaign, Empty 20, to highlight how it continues to support those who need a safe and stable place to rebuild their lives.
The campaign will lead up to Local Space’s 20th anniversary in 2026 and follow the journey of 20 newly acquired properties as they are prepared, refurbished where needed and turned into safe, settled homes.
The 20 homes are now being identified in partnership with Local Space’s asset and housing teams and are expected to include properties from a range of boroughs where the organisation already works, such as Havering, Redbridge, and Barking and Dagenham.
The campaign will use photography, video and resident stories to show how a settled, good quality home can transform lives, helping families rebuild stability, connect with their communities and plan for the future. It will also highlight how transforming empty properties into long-term family homes contributes to wider efforts to tackle London’s housing crisis, at a time when 172,420 children were living in temporary accommodation in England at the end of June 2025 according to official government statistics.
Formed in 2006 in partnership with the London Borough of Newham, Local Space is a not-for-profit housing association that acquires and refurbishes homes for households in housing need. It now owns over 3,000 properties across London, with a 75% resident satisfaction level between April 2024 – March 2025 (above the national average and in London’s upper quartile) and a strong financial position that enables continued investment in new homes.
Alongside the campaign, Local Space is continuing to expand its portfolio through its partnership with the London Borough of Hackney, which will see up to 50 homes acquired over the next two years.
Josie Parsons, Chief Executive at Local Space, said: “Empty 20 is about more than numbers. It’s about showing how our approach creates real change for families who have experienced homelessness, and how partnership working can turn empty homes into places where people can rebuild their lives. As we approach our 20th anniversary, this campaign will shine a light on the homes, stories and people who define our purpose.”
To support Empty 20 and wider communications activity, Local Space has appointed specialist housing PR agency, See Media, to deliver strategic PR and storytelling in the run up to its anniversary year.
Stuart Macdonald, Managing Director at See Media, commented: “Local Space’s Empty 20 campaign brings to life the practical, human impact of a unique housing model that really works. By following the journey of these homes, we can show how effective partnerships between councils and housing providers make a tangible difference to families and communities.”
The first homes to feature in Empty 20 are expected to be confirmed over the next few months, with regular updates to be shared as the campaign develops in the lead up to Local Space’s 20th anniversary in 2026.
Header image: Josie Parsons, Chief Executive at Local Space
