Matt Downie
@mattdownie.bsky.social
📤 1145
📥 1453
📝 33
Trying this out…desperately seeking sanity. CEO of Crisis. Chair of London Youth Theatre.
Gutted. Angela Rayner was the best and most consequential Housing Secretary in a generation.
3 months ago
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Welcome to the world of the absurd. Housing Benefit is frozen, leaving less than 3% of the rental market accessible to those in need. Homelessness skyrockets. Local government foots the bill, spending £2.3bn keeping people homeless in temporary accommodation
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/a...
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Only 2.5% of private rentals in England affordable on housing benefit, study finds
Exclusive: Charities say freeze to housing benefit will push more people into rent arrears and homelessness
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/apr/01/private-renting-england-affordable-housing-benefit-study
8 months ago
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It has been five years since the Everyone In scheme. It was an extraordinary and unique moment, but we mustn’t over-claim what it achieved… Thanks
@lgeraghty23.bsky.social
for speaking to me about it.
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
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Covid effectively ended rough sleeping. So where did it all go wrong?
The Everyone In scheme virtually ended rough sleeping during the Covid pandemic but five years on homelessness has surged to new heights.
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/rough-sleeping-everyone-in-covid-pandemic-homelessness/
8 months ago
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This is essential reading. Rest in peace, Joe.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
@shattenstone.bsky.social
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‘It’s hell on earth for me’: how did Joe Black overdose in a homeless hostel with zero tolerance for drugs?
Joe was a gifted musician who struggled with addiction and poor mental health. When he got a place at an award-winning ‘sanctuary’ in London, it sounded perfect. The reality was shockingly different
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/06/its-hell-on-earth-for-me-how-did-joe-black-overdose-in-a-homeless-hostel-with-zero-tolerance-for-drugs?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
8 months ago
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This brilliant piece from
@tom-clark.bsky.social
nails the current homelessness dilemma for the Government. 'We must choose between the flimsy plaster of nightly-paid lets and the sturdy bandage that a higher Local Housing Allowance would provide.'
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/lab...
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Sticking plaster politics and the sticky realities of the housing crisis
The prime minister has vowed to move beyond Elastoplast solutions. But with homelessness, he has a long way to go
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/labour-party/69536/sticking-plaster-politics-realities-of-housing-crisis-homelessness
9 months ago
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Big day for
@crisis-uk.bsky.social
today, with a landmark conference to get bold ideas into the coming Westminster strategy on homelessness. Nice to kick off the day with a big welcome from Deputy PM and keynote speech from Minister, Rushanara Ali.
9 months ago
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Great to be at No.10 today, talking about solutions to homelessness. Larry was in attendance.
11 months ago
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BBC and All Souls looking resplendent tonight. Thanks Gaby Roslin for having me on the show to talk about
@crisis-uk.bsky.social
services this Christmas
11 months ago
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Great to be on the Beeb this morning, talking about the money announced for tackling homelessness today. Money for councils v welcome. Also need a massive scale up of social housing, and to start preventing homelessness.
11 months ago
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In Westminster today to speak to MPs about the forthcoming homelessness strategy. It’s time to think big! Huge thanks to
@paulabarkermp.bsky.social
for having me.
12 months ago
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Very good to speak to
@shelaghfogarty.bsky.social
at
@lbc.co.uk
today. I’m a real fan. She hears stories of homelessness all the time. A lot to talk about.
12 months ago
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Attention Bluesky friends! Chris and Jonny from Coldplay are playing a one-off and very special gig at Hackney Church, on Tuesday! All proceeds to
@crisis-uk.bsky.social
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/evening-wi...
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A Special Evening with Chris & Jonny
Win one of 150 pairs of tickets to a special evening with Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland at Hackney Church, London, in aid of Crisis.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/evening-with-chris-martin-jonny-buckland
12 months ago
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Amazing to speak at the first Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health National Student Conference in Sheffield today. An inspirational day!
#homelesshealth
#inclusionhealth
#homelessness
12 months ago
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reposted by
Matt Downie
Unofficial BBCNews (UK) Bot
12 months ago
Home Office doubles time given to refugees to find accommodation
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Home Office doubles time given to refugees to find accommodation
The period for refugees to move out of supported housing will increase from 28 to 56 days.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx27npv58nno
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Good news - the Government have extended the move on period for newly granted refugees from 28 to 56 days. In our world, this is fantastic news, giving a fighting chance that people can avoid homelessness. Hooray!
12 months ago
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Thanks again to
@liamthorp.bsky.social
for such a searing report. Our services in Liverpool are facing unprecedented demand. We need system change.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 year ago
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I’m sick of the speculation about Ange’s future. We are fully behind him as a club, and confident we will beat City tomorrow, once again. (Also, great to speak to the club foundation about homelessness today).
about 1 year ago
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New podcast documentary from the exceptional
@danielhewittitv.bsky.social
on the shameful state of housing that people endure in 21st century Britain.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
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The Trapped
Documentary Podcast · 9 Episodes
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-trapped/id1779277204
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Matt Downie
Madeleine Sugden
about 1 year ago
No problem! Here's my starter pack of UK charities too.
add a skeleton here at some point
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‘Sometimes, paradise is a house.’ Very much so
@mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 year ago
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you reached the end!!
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