Rent Arrears ‘Much Worse Than Feared’ Ahead Of UK Cost Of Living Crisis

 The number of universal credit claimants at least two months behind on rent soared by 70 per cent in the first half of this year, according to new analysis. Official figures show around 190,000 people in England who receive universal credit were in severe rent arrears by May this year. This compares to just over 110,000 people at least two months late on rent payments as of December 2020. This does not take into account people who have been behind on their rent for just one month or those who have fallen into arrears since May. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/rent-arrears-much-worse-than-feared-ahead-of-uk-cost-of-living-crisis/

Jenrick Says Ending Rough Sleeping ‘Isn’t High Enough On The Government’s Agenda’

Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has warned there is not enough political will in the government to hit its target of ending rough sleeping by 2024. Jenrick, who was sacked last month, told a Conservative Party Conference fringe event that getting other departments to “step up” will be a challenge his successor Michael Gove faces if he is to deliver on the Conservative manifesto promise. “Some issues stay with you long after you have left a job. For me, this is true of homelessness,” said Jenrick at the event. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/robert-jenrick-says-ending-rough-sleeping-isnt-high-enough-on-the-governments-agenda/ 

One Household Made Homeless Every 3.5 Hours

One UK household is being made homeless every three-and-a-half hours, new analysis by The Big Issue has revealed, as evictions and repossessions have continued throughout lockdown. Despite an eviction ban from the government, there were 370 mortgage repossessions and 262 rental evictions in England and Wales in the first 90 days of the year. This equates to more than seven households a day being made homeless. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/latest/one-household-made-homeless-every-3-5-hours-big-issue-study-shows/

Housing Benefit Fails To Cover Rent In Nearly All Of England’s Council Areas

Local Housing Allowance payments are too small to cover average rent almost everywhere in England, analysts for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint have found. In 243 of the 247 local authorities where rent cost data was available, the lowest tier of housing benefit is not enough to pay for a room in a shared house – forcing young people to choose between rent and food. And in more than a third of council areas, the amount of Universal Credit paid to under-25s was at least £100 below the price of rent per month. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/latest/housing-benefit-fails-to-cover-rent-in-nearly-all-of-englands-council-areas/

Brighton Could Become The First UK City To Have A Homeless Bill Of Rights

Brighton could set a new precedent for UK cities when councillors debate whether to adopt a homeless bill of rights. The city council will be asked if they will sign up to enshrine 13 rights for homeless people at a full council meeting, covering access to decent emergency accommodation, the right to use public spaces, the right to vote, to privacy and to equal treatment among others. The campaign to protect homeless people’s rights aims to place human rights above a housing situation and protect society’s most vulnerable from discrimination. Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/latest/brighton-could-become-the-first-uk-city-to-have-a-homeless-bill-of-rights/

Landlords Boycotting Companies That Support Shelter

Landlords are attempting to launch a boycott of businesses that support housing charity Shelter, according to housing industry website Property Industry Eye, which reported this week that while Shelter paid tribute to B&Q and Marks & Spencer for their support over the winter period, the National Landlords alliance has targeted the stores. Property Industry Eye reported that “some landlords have already written to B&Q to warn them that they will no longer be making any purchases there.” Read more on the Big Issue website.

https://www.bigissue.com/latest/social-activism/landlords-are-boycotting-companies-that-support-homelessness-charity-shelter/

UK’s Biggest Shipping Container Village Opens Up For Homeless People

The UK’s largest temporary housing development for homeless people will open up in west London. Made up of refurbished shipping containers, the bold scheme will give 290 people registered as homeless with Ealing Council a roof over the heads just in time for Christmas. Set up on derelict land next to an estate in Acton, the container village is the most ambitious effort yet to utilize the oblong, mobile units to help address the housing crisis. Some communal spaces, laundry facilities and refuse storage space will sit alongside the fully furnished the mobile apartments. Read more on the Big Issue website.

Homeless Facing Worst Winter Crisis For 20 Years

England could face its worst winter homelessness crisis in more than two decades and radical action is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating, the Big Issue founder has said. John Bird, a life peer who set up the magazine sold on the street by homeless people, said the UK risked moving back to the “desperate” times of the 1990s when the Big Issue started. “It could be the worst winter for over two decades … I am not just talking about rising numbers [of homeless people], but also the fact money is going down and not up. It is likely to make future winters harder, and next year threatens to be even worse,” Lord Bird said. Read more on the Guardian website.

Community Housing Groups Warn £300 Million Fund At Risk

Community groups have warned a £300 million fund for new affordable housing projects is at risk as the political parties battle over spending pledges. The National Community Land Trust Network, the UK Cohousing Network and the Confederation of Cooperative Housing have joined forces to urge the parties to commit to a five-year fund set up last year to boost their work. The £300 million Community Housing Fund was launched in December to provide small, community-led housing groups extra resources to scale-up ambitious building plans. But these grassroots groups are worried the future of the fund is now in jeopardy. Read more on the Big Issue website.