New homelessness statistics out today: 112,660 households in temporary accommodation including 145,800 children - another record high.

We’ve been here before, but we are still calling for urgent action. What will it take for this to be treated as a priority?

A new consultation on PIP launched by DWP Secretary Mel Stride this evening says, 'many people have a good assessment experience.' But what is it like to go through it?

We've heard people's actual experience. The government should hear them too 🔽🧵

Lots going on in the world but today our wonderful girl became a teenager. She's taking it all in her stride but I confess I'm a bit freaked out at reaching this parenting stage! Lots of achievements, good times, proud moments & no doubt some teenage trials/tribulations to come!

Hi Natalie Campbell

Our Experts by Experience have created a manifesto highlighting 4 key asks for the future of London!

Will you commit to pursuing these policies if you are elected Mayor?

switchbackworks.info/manifesto

The latest The News Agents episode examines the very real impact of Britain's temporary accommodation crisis. Led by Lewis Goodall, it’s a powerful listen.

We're demanding party leaders commit to ending homelessness. Add your name to our letter now: campaigns.crisis.org.uk/page/143629/pe…

Yes, disability benefits need reform. But threatening disabled people & making them even poorer will only deepen poverty, worsening the nation’s health & holding back our economy. 7/10 people referred to ⁦The Trussell Trust⁩ food banks are disabled. We need serious solutions.

The bar is already v.high for PIP. You have to show that e.g you cannot wash, dress, get food or go to treatment without prompting/assistance. You can't get PIP for a mild Mental Health condition. 1/2
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

That sound you here? Charities, policy experts, practitioners & of course benefit claimants themselves banging their heads in frustration at *yet another* 'crackdown on welfare' which ignores the evidence, reheats old rhetoric, pulls out old tropes & does not actually help people

Not the vouchers trope again. Why would you want to create a system that's even more expensive and complicated and that will achieve absolutely nothing.

Thanks Lewis Goodall for this searing account of life in temporary accommodation.

Please keep covering the housing and homelessness crises, and giving a voice to those directly impacted.

This is not inevitable and there are political solutions.

The benefits system we have is virtually entirely created by this Government: Universal Credit, PIP, Local Welfare Assistance, Household Support Fund, DHPs & of course the bedroom tax & the cuts & caps. Yes there are many flaws but they are the flaws of Ministers not claimants...

If you asked every single person receiving benefits to give two words to describe their experience of the welfare system, I doubt you'd hear a single mention of 'fairness' or 'compassion'

More today on government thinking about overhauling social security support for disabled people. Their starting point should be:
- 26% disabled people face hunger (x3 rate for non-disabled people).
- 7/10 people referred to The Trussell Trust foodbanks are disabled.
We see...1/6

This thread. All of it. People with health conditions & disabilities need real help & support, not to be kicked as a political football..

This system is such a mess. Carers allowance is so low people face hunger & debt. It's so badly designed it misses many who really need it AND disincentivises work. While the government is desperate to get more people working more. It's not compassionate, just or effective.

'It's elections so what would you like? A strong economy? Good hospitals, schools & public services? A clean environment?' 'Well yes, yes, yes, but what I would really like is rules so all letterboxes are wide, without brushes & easy to open'...said every election leafleter ever!

Not all protests are good (they aren't) but generally if when people saw one they asked less 'why don't they stop protesting' & more 'why are they protesting, whats the issue that needs tackling' or even 'why have I not joined this protest' then the world would be a better place

This should be a much bigger issue - acute lack of teachers in our schools leaving kids lesson after lesson being taught by TAs & supply teachers (my daughter has supply everyday). Ofsted ratings & subject offers are meaningless without qualified teachers
theguardian.com/education/2024…

Football. 👇

A typically forensic Jennifer Williams piece on levelling up programme failings.

It didn’t:
- compensate for #localgov ££ cuts
- allocate promised funds (below)
- target ££ to deprivation

It did:
- add to funding complexity
- waste scarce bidding capacity
ft.com/content/45c12c…