Brian Robson
@brianrobson.bsky.social
I want more people to live in a decent, affordable home. Don't you?
Work: Director Housing & Homelessness, @oak-foundation.bsky.social
Dad, bookworm, sedate cyclist | Mackem in North Yorks | Views mine.
Work: Director Housing & Homelessness, @oak-foundation.bsky.social
Dad, bookworm, sedate cyclist | Mackem in North Yorks | Views mine.
Pinned
Brian Robson
@brianrobson.bsky.social
· Nov 18
👋 Hello to new followers. My feed is shaping up into a nice mix of people I knew at the other place and new friends I haven't met yet.
Expect housing, homelessness and the joys of living in Yorkshire. Also interested in politics, philanthropy, and regional development.
Expect housing, homelessness and the joys of living in Yorkshire. Also interested in politics, philanthropy, and regional development.
Amazing opportunity for someone here ⤵️
HIRING: We have a great opportunity for someone passionate about solving the housing crisis to join our team and help develop the policies we need to secure affordable, safe homes for everyone!
Find out more and apply by midnight, 30 November: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
Find out more and apply by midnight, 30 November: neweconomics.org/about/work-w...
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Amazing opportunity for someone here ⤵️
This will save me a fair amount of money next year, but not convinced this is best use of limited fiscal headroom.
Train fares frozen: not happened for decades.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
Bringing rail back into public ownership means we can take action on fares.
November 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This will save me a fair amount of money next year, but not convinced this is best use of limited fiscal headroom.
Reposted by Brian Robson
A crucial step in ensuring the Ask and Act duty to prevent homelessness (which All in for Change helped shape) works as intended. The pilots will test the duty in real-world settings & explore how services can work together to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier - then act to prevent it.
A series of pilot projects aimed at finding new ways of preventing people from becoming homeless in Scotland have been given the green light.
15 pilot ‘Ask & Act’ homelessness prevention projects revealed
A series of pilot projects aimed at finding new ways of preventing people from becoming homeless in Scotland have been given the green light.
www.scottishhousingnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
A crucial step in ensuring the Ask and Act duty to prevent homelessness (which All in for Change helped shape) works as intended. The pilots will test the duty in real-world settings & explore how services can work together to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier - then act to prevent it.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Proud that our colleague Billy Harding contributed to the latest BBC piece on the housing crisis.
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
BBC reports live from court as more people face losing their homes - special report
Court figures show the number of mortgage repossession orders in England and Wales reached a five-year high in 2024-25.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Proud that our colleague Billy Harding contributed to the latest BBC piece on the housing crisis.
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
This isn’t about one case — it’s systemic failure: 📉 rising costs, ⚖️ shrinking legal aid, 🏚️ unsafe housing.
Law centres like ours fill the gap.
🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today, we brought this message to Westminster with other organisations, ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
November 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today, we brought this message to Westminster with other organisations, ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget.
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
📢 Chancellor Rachel Reeves: restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Join us and take action today: bit.ly/3V1d76a
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today we joined Crisis and a host of other organisations in Westminster.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Today we joined Crisis and a host of other organisations in Westminster.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Frozen housing benefit rates are pushing renters into poverty.
Ahead of next week’s Autumn Budget, we’re calling on the Chancellor to restore housing benefit to match the true cost of rent.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Our statement on the government's policy announcements on asylum yesterday
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Our statement on the government's policy announcements on asylum yesterday
Interesting news about a potential 'hotel tax' / tourism levy in England. The Edinburgh one mentioned in the Guardian article includes earmarked revenue for investment in affordable housing 🏠🏘️🏡 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reeves could allow holiday tax on English hotel and Airbnb stays
Move to give mayors powers to raise funds through levies, but industry says it will ramp up prices and inflation
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Interesting news about a potential 'hotel tax' / tourism levy in England. The Edinburgh one mentioned in the Guardian article includes earmarked revenue for investment in affordable housing 🏠🏘️🏡 www.theguardian.com/business/202...
'No one gets where they are without the help of others'.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
November 17, 2025 at 11:24 AM
'No one gets where they are without the help of others'.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Five years today since this lovely letter appeared in the New Yorker and it's still pinned up above my desk. Thank you Ken Bates for the reminder of how we're all helped by (and help) folks we never get to meet.
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access healthcare, or lower the cost of groceries, Trump doubled down on backwards polices that will force 170,000 people-who are currently stably housed- back into homelessness.
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Trump's new ideological mandates will force 170,000 people back into homelessness - National Homelessness Law Center
Trump's new ideological mandates will force 170,000 people back into homelessness (WASHINGTON, D.C - November 14th, 2025) Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access…
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Today, instead of using their power to help people pay rent, access healthcare, or lower the cost of groceries, Trump doubled down on backwards polices that will force 170,000 people-who are currently stably housed- back into homelessness.
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Our statement: buff.ly/qA4H2kk
Reposted by Brian Robson
The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on the 1st of May 2026!
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
November 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on the 1st of May 2026!
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Listen to our Chief Executive, @bentwomeyuk.bsky.social, explain to @lbc.co.uk what NEW RIGHTS will be given to tenants.
👇
Reposted by Brian Robson
UPDATE: The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on May 1st 2026. This means Section 21 Evictions will no longer be ISSUED after this date!
November 14, 2025 at 9:11 AM
UPDATE: The Renters’ Rights Act will be put into action on May 1st 2026. This means Section 21 Evictions will no longer be ISSUED after this date!
Reposted by Brian Robson
And now for the dodgy governance bit. All combined authorities need an equivalent of the London Assembly. There is a huge democratic deficit in the way they are set up.
Presumably where PCC duties will fall to new and existing elected Mayors, as happens now a police and crime oversight committee will be established as part of the combined authority which that Mayor leads. There'll need to be a new legislative framework for this (4/)
November 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
And now for the dodgy governance bit. All combined authorities need an equivalent of the London Assembly. There is a huge democratic deficit in the way they are set up.
This is a *lovely* read on the work of the Church Housing Association and Church Development Agency to create housing opportunity in England's West Midlands.
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Inside Housing tours the sites where the new Church Housing Association wants to build
The Church of England’s decision to launch a housing association was a “bombshell” four years ago. Now, it’s preparing to welcome its first tenants. Jess McCabe joins a tour of the potential sites.
www.insidehousing.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This is a *lovely* read on the work of the Church Housing Association and Church Development Agency to create housing opportunity in England's West Midlands.
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Proud that my team have been able to play a small part in supporting their impressive progress. www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insi...
Scenes from a housing crisis. Mostly empty surface car park, couple of hundred metres from a Zone 2 station. Two Foxtons minis parked up.
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Scenes from a housing crisis. Mostly empty surface car park, couple of hundred metres from a Zone 2 station. Two Foxtons minis parked up.
Strong case for the Nordic welfare model from former Finnish PM Sanna Marin at #LSEEvents tonight, drawing on her own lived experience. Clear eyed about defence, perhaps vaguer about where the trade offs might lie (but to be fair, not her job anymore!)
November 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Strong case for the Nordic welfare model from former Finnish PM Sanna Marin at #LSEEvents tonight, drawing on her own lived experience. Clear eyed about defence, perhaps vaguer about where the trade offs might lie (but to be fair, not her job anymore!)
Reposted by Brian Robson
Today, we're launching a new report about Local Housing Allowance. This is the first time our Peer Research team, who all have lived experience of housing need, have led a project from initial concept to publication. Huge thanks to them for bringing a different perspective: bit.ly/3Lz8D55
Local housing allowance: A safety net unravelling - Shelter Cymru
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Today, we're launching a new report about Local Housing Allowance. This is the first time our Peer Research team, who all have lived experience of housing need, have led a project from initial concept to publication. Huge thanks to them for bringing a different perspective: bit.ly/3Lz8D55
Reposted by Brian Robson
🚨BREAKING: Our new research finds that 300,000 families and individuals are now facing the worst forms of homelessness in England – including rough sleeping, sofa surfing & living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Almost 300,000 families 'experiencing the worst forms of homelessness'
Housing charity Crisis says this includes people being forced to sleep on the streets and in unsuitable temporary accommodation such as nightly-paid B&Bs and hostels
www.mirror.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
🚨BREAKING: Our new research finds that 300,000 families and individuals are now facing the worst forms of homelessness in England – including rough sleeping, sofa surfing & living in unsuitable temporary accommodation.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Brian Robson
The #SMKCampaignerSurvey is aimed at campaigners, changemakers, advocates and activists across the UK. If you are involved in any sort of social change at a national, regional or local level, we want to hear from you.
https://forms.office.com/e/M2L9N2HUyZ
https://forms.office.com/e/M2L9N2HUyZ
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The #SMKCampaignerSurvey is aimed at campaigners, changemakers, advocates and activists across the UK. If you are involved in any sort of social change at a national, regional or local level, we want to hear from you.
https://forms.office.com/e/M2L9N2HUyZ
https://forms.office.com/e/M2L9N2HUyZ
"No one should be forced to live in unsafe conditions, whether it's children in poor-quality B&Bs or people having to sleep on the streets, in tents or in squats." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Homelessness figures higher than data suggests, research shows
Official data for England underestimates the scale of the problem, according to research for charity Crisis says.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"No one should be forced to live in unsafe conditions, whether it's children in poor-quality B&Bs or people having to sleep on the streets, in tents or in squats." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Brian Robson
That glass building in shot on #bbcqt while Fiona Bruce talked about Sunderland's rich history of glass making is the National Glass Centre.
In an act of cultural vandalism, Sunderland University intend to close and demolish it next year.
savethengc.art.blog
In an act of cultural vandalism, Sunderland University intend to close and demolish it next year.
savethengc.art.blog
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 PM
That glass building in shot on #bbcqt while Fiona Bruce talked about Sunderland's rich history of glass making is the National Glass Centre.
In an act of cultural vandalism, Sunderland University intend to close and demolish it next year.
savethengc.art.blog
In an act of cultural vandalism, Sunderland University intend to close and demolish it next year.
savethengc.art.blog