To experience psychosis is to temporarily lose your connection with reality. It can involve hearing voices, delusional beliefs, confusion and difficulty communicating. Psychotic episodes are common to a number of severe mental health conditions, including schizophrenia. Not all experiences of psychosis are negative – but some people may be hospitalised after a particularly serious episode. … Continue reading A Fragile Recovery: Life in a supported housing unit
Hawa’s Story: Disabled by war, judged fit to work by the Department for Work and Pensions
Badly injured in an explosion in Mogadishu, Hawa fled war to build a life in the UK. I was introduced to her by Sue Noel at Brixton Advice Centre, who has been advocating for her in her fight with the Department for Work and Pensions. She talked to me about what had brought her to … Continue reading Hawa’s Story: Disabled by war, judged fit to work by the Department for Work and Pensions
The Winter Shelter: A night with Glass Door
Last month I spent a night at a winter homeless shelter in Wandsworth, run by the charity Glass Door. I wanted to understand why rough sleeping in England has risen so relentlessly since 2010 – up 16% last year and 30% the year before. I talked to guests, staff and volunteers about the disparate problems … Continue reading The Winter Shelter: A night with Glass Door
How Government cuts are pushing people into food poverty, debt and mental illness
Sue Noel has been helping struggling Lambeth residents at Brixton Advice Centre (BAC) since 2009. Unlike some of BAC’s specialists, she advises on all the issues the centre covers – from benefits and debt to housing, disrepair and homelessness. It means she has a unique overview of why people come to BAC – and how … Continue reading How Government cuts are pushing people into food poverty, debt and mental illness
A day in the death of Lambeth County Court: How austerity is eroding access to justice
In September 2017 Lambeth County Court will close its doors forever. It is one of 86 courts and tribunals across England and Wales – 10 in London alone – that the Ministry of Justice is shutting as part of the Government’s programme of austerity. I wanted to understand what Lambeth was losing, so I spent … Continue reading A day in the death of Lambeth County Court: How austerity is eroding access to justice
Homelessness and the housing crisis in Lambeth
People in Lambeth, and in boroughs across the capital, are being made homeless through a combination of changes to the benefits system, delays caused by staff shortages and a housing loophole which means that people judged to have made themselves “intentionally homeless” are no longer the responsibility of the overstretched local authority…. There are currently … Continue reading Homelessness and the housing crisis in Lambeth
Trace’s story: Facing the threat of eviction
Trace has been battling the bureaucracy of both Lambeth Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for many years now. We met to talk about her struggle with the benefits system, but in the process I heard about what she’s experienced at the hands of Lambeth Council’s housing department over the last 20 … Continue reading Trace’s story: Facing the threat of eviction
The death of social housing and the end of lifetime tenancies
Pete Elliott is one of Brixton Advice Centre’s (BAC) housing law specialists. He focuses on disrepair issues and evictions and has worked at the Centre for just over six years – previously working for a human rights law firm in the City. I spoke to him about what his job involves, how cuts are affecting … Continue reading The death of social housing and the end of lifetime tenancies
