The Latest Breaking News from Matt Downie

Tories Vow to Ban Foreign Nationals From Social Housing: Why the Plan Could Affect 230,000 Households

The Conservative Party plans to bar foreign nationals from social housing, sparking criticism and debate over its effectiveness and timing, given their long tenure in power.

International Business Times UK · Aug 7

Calls for radical action as Burnham told homelessness in England may rise 25% by 2030

Exclusive: Report warns an additional 50,000 people could be added to current record figure without bold policies

The Guardian - UK · Jul 12

Crisis charity to become a landlord in attempt to rectify ‘catastrophic’ housing in UK

Exclusive: Homelessness charity planning to buy properties as it can no longer rely on access to social housing

The Guardian - UK · Nov 10, 2025

Rough sleepers have been urinated on and had bricks thrown at them, survey shows

Charity Crisis found 90% of people it spoke to had experienced some form of violence or abuse while on the streets.

Evening Standard · Dec 19, 2023

‘Huge sigh of relief’ for renters after housing allowance unfrozen

Changes on both benefits and housing allowance will come into effect from April 2024.

The Independent UK · Nov 22, 2023

‘Action needed’ as no-fault eviction court proceedings hit seven-year high

Housing charities have repeated calls for a firm timetable on when Section 21 will be abolished.

The Independent UK · Nov 9, 2023

Employers urged to sign up to new pledge to help homeless in the workplace

Thames Water, Pret A Manger and Monzo are among the firms which helped draft the covenant.

The Independent UK · Sep 13, 2023

Government rough sleeping funding ‘nowhere near enough’, charities say

The £34.6 million support package is on top of the original allocation of up to £500 million over three years.

The Independent UK · Sep 4, 2023

Councils struggling to cope with rising levels of homelessness, says charity

Core homelessness includes people sleeping rough, sofa-surfing, and in unsuitable temporary accommodation, Crisis said.

The Independent UK · Aug 23, 2023

Cost-of-living crisis and housing shortage sees rough sleeping rise – charity

The latest statistics came just a day after the Prince of Wales announced the first of the flagship areas where he hopes to end homelessness.

The Independent UK · Jun 27, 2023