Homelessness rise 'likely to have been driven by welfare reforms'

Also we need to add empty housing not being in areas where there is employment. Rents are very high in most areas and cost about half the earned income of people on minimum wage jobs.

Here's another good idea.

www.benefittosociety.co.uk/

It looks at the stereotypes of those living in social housing and challenges our perceptions. It asks journalists to think about what they are writing about social housing tenants more carefully.

www.24housing.co.uk/opinion/bring-back-the-bungalow/

I've been saying this for a while. No point expecting the elderly to downsize and free up larger properties if there's nowhere sensible for them to downsize to.

Andy Burnham speaking at the conference.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/tackling-homelessness-cant-wait-until-labour-comes-to-power/

I live in Manchester, and we have just had a letter delivered from the Council which says it is proposing to renovate a large building near where we live as temporary accomodation for newly homeless people, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will have bedrooms, a canteen where people can learn cooking and hygiene skills, ICT equipment to ensure easy access to housing and job websites, an activity room and a garden. The council is inviting us to a drop in session to discuss these plans.

Andy Burnham is, as you probably know, mayor for Greater Manchester , so it looks as if he is putting his money where his mouth is.

I think this is a really good, practical start to try and eliminate the need for people to live on the streets in Manchester.
I do hope that if people attend the discussion, there won't be too many "nimbys"

That sounds really good, Ilovecheese.
Brilliant if it happens. Like Burnham says, can't wait for Labour to come to power - unless, of course, May stands down at the weekend.
Are you near enough to be inconvenienced by the Tory conference this weekend?

No durmjen we are not near enough, even though where we live is classed as "Central Manchester" in the phone book, we are still about 4 miles from the city centre.

My son and grandson are going to watch Man Utd on Saturday, going by train.
I have warned them. Haven't told them that the People's Assembly are also going to be there, but they should remember that from when his cousin worked in the hotel where Tory MPs were staying, and the staff were locked in.

That sounds like an excellent facility Ilovecheese - keep us posted on the developments! I agree that people are very quick to say they support projects like this for the homeless, unless they're close to where they live. It's a shame, as if they are well run, they are no bother to nearby residents. I have quite a large homeless shelter nearby (140 rooms and 3 roads away) and it's not problem at all.

Housing benefit has been paid direct to the tenant for a long time, long before this Government and Universal Credit, I think under the Tories before Blair. I understood they thought it would make people more responsible. It was much better for most people having it paid direct to the landlord.

This is why more council housing is needed.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/average-house-price-now-eight-times-the-average-wage/

My eldest son is severely disabled and was made homeless by his last providers a few weeks ago. This is a large part of why he has now had to be sectioned and admitted to a hospital 7 hours from home.It's not the only part - he also needs a very specialist team of carers which takes a while to set up, but with a home something could probably have been cobbled together long enough to get a permanent team in place. Note he had not been sectioned due to medical need but because of a lack of local resources. The LA really did try as well - they tried very very hard to avoid admission but without housing stock and at the mercy of the whims of private providers their hands were tied.

He has never been away from me for more than two or three days before.

Have no doubt the most vulnerable suffer - my son has a very strong family and therefore advocates around him. If this could happen to him god knows what happens to others.

Sorry - it's not the only part

12 Tory MPs have signed a letter asking the DWP to pause the roll-out of universal benefit.
It's getting through at last that there are problems with the system.

www.theweek.co.uk/88786/britain-facing-worst-winter-homelessness-crisis-in-20-years

Anyone watch the news?

Now tell me that this evil governments policies are not to blame

They can't be, whitewave. Did you not watch the speech yesterday?

Never trust a Tory.

speyejoe2.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/tories-sneak-out-announcement-of-4-64-billion-social-rent-increase/

May didn't mention this in her speech, did she?

There will never be enough housing built.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/homes-target-may-never-be-met/

"Bah! Humbug!"

Gauke's response to Frank Field asking if people would be homeless by Christmas if their universal credit was not sorted out.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-homeless-christmas-david-gauke-a7991501.html

www.24housing.co.uk/news/one-in-10-believe-the-homeless-are-beyond-help/

World homeless day today.

Sean Hughes has left one of his houses to a homeless charity.

Well done, Sean Hughes.

Chancellor obviously doesn't care about more housing.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/chancellor-refuses-to-borrow-billions-to-fund-housing/