U-Turn On ‘Homeless Tax’ Proposal

Manchester council looks set to scrap a controversial ‘aggressive begging’ ban in the city centre after a fierce political backlash earlier this year. The Manchester Evening News reports that the town hall’s Labour leadership plans to remove any reference to begging from the authority’s proposed public space protection order, which intends to introduce £100 fines […]

There Is No Post-Brexit ‘Poverty Plan’

The government seemingly has no specific ‘poverty plan’ for a no-deal Brexit, despite rising destitution brought on by welfare reform, reports 24 Housing. Instead, DWP minister Justin Tomlinson fell back on ‘the system’ in an evasive written answer to a Commons question from Labour’s Sharon Hodgson – who asked if the DWP has plans for […]

Music Collaboration With Homeless Man Goes Viral

Musician Kin Rich was walking through Birmingham city centre when he heard the flute being played. “When you’re a musician, you hear melodies everywhere. I thought, whoever’s playing this is really talented.” He stopped and spoke to the homeless man, Nathan, who was playing and decided to record the melody. But when he sampled it […]

“Judge Rough Sleepers On Their Potential” Says New Fire Chief

One of the most senior fire fighters in the UK is sharing her experience of rough sleeping to change their attitudes to homelessness. Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, who starts her new job as head of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service in September, was made homeless as a teenager. Sabrina and her family experienced extreme poverty […]

End The LHA Freeze!

A new report from Shelter says the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) freeze should not only end next year as planned but have rates restored to at least the so-called 30th percentile – or cheapest third of local rents. The report From the frontline – Universal Credit and the broken housing safety net also wants a “ robust mechanism” in place to […]

From Rough Sleeper To Police Officer – One Man’s ‘Inspirational’ Story

A police constable has shared his journey from being a teenager who slept rough to becoming a neighbourhood officer. Thousands of people reacted to PC Stephen Croshaw’s tweets about overcoming his difficult childhood. The Warwickshire officer, 46, said he suffered abuse from an alcoholic mother, was locked in a coal shed and eventually slept rough. […]

Universal Credit ‘Forcing Tenants Into Rent Arrears’

Universal credit is causing tenants to fall behind with rent, according to research released by the Residential Landlords Association. David Smith, policy director for the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), said it was taking too long for people struggling on universal credit to get the help they needed, reports the BBC.  “The system only provides extra […]

‘Billionaire Duke’ To Make Council Residents Homeless

The billionaire Duke of Westminster has been accused of “social cleansing” for planning to boot 40 families out of council homes to make way for luxury flats, reports the Daily Mirror. Hugh Grosvenor, 28, is the world’s wealthiest person aged under-30 after inheriting his title three years ago. His property group Grosvenor aims to demolish […]

Back To School And Help The Homeless

A mum-of-five who faced a £600 bill to send her kids back to school set up a £1 swap shop to trade outgrown uniforms with other parents and any money raised goes to help the homeless. Natalie Lek, from Blackburn, started the school uniform exchange to encourage parents to take a stance against the soaring […]

A homeless Person Is Dying Every 19 Hours

Calls have been made to tackle the rough sleeping crisis after campaigners claimed one homeless person is dying on average every 19 hours. Outlined in reports by the Museum of Homelessness (MoH), the suggested figure follows their own research, which found at least 235 people “affected by homelessness” had died in the last six months. […]