After seven years at the homelessness charity, Neate says she has made “the incredibly difficult decision” to leave
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate has announced that she will step down from her position in March 2025 after seven years in the role.
Shelter has said that under Neate’s leadership, the charity has successfully campaigned for changes to tackle the housing emergency, including new laws to improve conditions in social housing, the strengthening of renters’ rights, and the prioritisation of building new social homes on the political and public agenda.
During her tenure, Shelter says it has also helped millions of people facing homelessness and poor housing through its face-to-face advocacy, telephone and online advice services, and legal support.
Neate has cited personal reasons for deciding to leave the position, including a desire to pursue new challenges.
She has also said she believes it is an “optimal moment” in Shelter’s 10-year strategy and the external campaigning environment to transition to new leadership.
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She is currently exploring opportunities before deciding what her next challenge will be.
The process of recruiting Neate’s successor is now underway. Shelter has stated that in the event that there is a gap between Neate’s departure and a new chief executive starting, Shelter’s chief operating officer Tim Gutteridge will serve as interim chief executive with support from Shelter’s executive leadership team.
Neate was awarded an CBE in 2020 for services to tackling homelessness. In 2022 she was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Bristol and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science.
She will continue to sit on the boards of both the Young Women’s Trust and Women in Sport, and as a non-executive director of Wessex Local Medical Committees.
Neate was chief executive at domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid for over four years before joining Shelter in 2017.
Neate trained as a journalist at City of London University in the late 80s and was editor of community care for almost seven years.
Polly Neate CBE, said: “I joined Shelter because I know that an end to homelessness and housing insecurity in this country is not a wild fantasy – it is an achievable reality.
“I feel immensely proud of how Shelter has led the pursuit of that goal over the last seven years. Deciding to leave has been an incredibly difficult decision, but I know the time is right, both personally and for the organisation.
Neate added: “I’ll forever be grateful to the incredible colleagues, volunteers and supporters who have enabled us to achieve so much in my time here.
“With their passion and focus, I know Shelter will continue to draw public and political attention to the housing emergency, champion the building of more social homes as the only answer to that emergency, and fight to defend the right to a safe home for everyone.
“When we do finally have a country where homelessness is a thing of the past and everyone can afford a decent place to live, every one of those Shelter employees, volunteers and supporters will have been instrumental in that achievement.”
Helen Baker, chair of Shelter’s board of trustees, said: “On behalf of Shelter’s Board and staff, I’d like to express our deepest thanks to Polly for everything she has achieved over the last seven years. Her impact on Shelter and the wider housing and charity sectors is both incalculable and inspirational.
“Under her leadership, Shelter has truly shifted the public discourse on housing, driving a much fuller understanding of the housing emergency, its causes and solutions, to the top of the political agenda.
“Polly is a born change-maker and an indefatigable force for social justice. We wish her all the very best at wherever she chooses to take that passion and leadership next”.
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