The growth of First People Housing over the last couple of years has been amazing. From increases in staff, clientele and houses, the trajectory of the company has risen above even the most ambitious plans established by the leadership team three years ago.

Homelessness is a divisive issue in the UK. While there is undeniably a lot of compassion for people unfortunate enough to be homeless, there are also people with feelings of animosity and negativity towards them. Many people couldn’t care less about homelessness, and while changing that is a big barrier to combating the crisis, broadening perspectives and increasing critical understanding of homelessness is essential to changing minds. 

After 200 years, rough sleeping will finally be decriminalised

The government has announced the Vagrancy Act will be repealed and rough sleeping will no longer be treated as a criminal offence in England and Wales. The act, introduced in 1824, aimed to address growing homelessness after the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution. 

At First People CIC, we believe in second chances.

Every day, we support individuals in Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City as they rebuild their lives after trauma, homelessness, substance misuse, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Our approach is community-based, trauma-informed, and grounded in the belief that with the right support, anyone can turn a corner.

Now, we’re taking the next step — and we need your help.

Homelessness Minister resigns amidst embarrassing hypocrisy 

It was revealed yesterday that Homelessness Minister, Rushanara Ali, resigned from her post in a somewhat humiliating fashion. Ms Ali, who held the post since Labour’s election landslide in July 2024, is accused of evicting tenants in one of her homes and relisting the property for nearly £700 higher per month. The story was broken by the i Newspaper.

UK public opinion is changing. There is a tangible sense of frustration and even animosity this summer, with empathy and understanding seemingly on the decline.

There have been protests outside hotels where asylum seekers are housed, alongside a general propensity to blame them, and immigration as a whole, for pretty much every issue the UK faces.

Summer is upon us and the brief stint of sunshine we’ve had so far has many people looking like they have never even heard of sun cream. It is somewhat understandable, the summer almost creeps up on us in the UK, but one of the biggest advantages is the vibrance it brings, and many studies have equated exposure to sunlight with improved mental health.

The rising levels and wider problem of homelessness in the UK have been discussed in great length on the FPH website. Given that FPH provides shelter and accommodation to rough sleepers, this may not come as much of a surprise. What might surprise you, however, is how seldom updates on this issue through latest legislation or public behaviour are in fact positive.  

Whether we like it or not, we judge books by their covers. In this day and age especially, assumption, presumption and preconception often come as a package and no matter who we are, we are all guilty of doing it. When we ask people what they do for a living, whether on a date, meeting through friends, or even out of curiosity, the answer received often encourages us to attach characteristics “typical” of that line of work or job role.

First People Housing blogs are intended to improve engagement using well informed research from both primary and secondary sources. While elements of opinion are less frowned upon in blogging than journalistic writing, I have tried to restrict shooting from the hip and giving unfiltered opinions as if I am five pints down in the Red Lion.

For the better part of a year, the FPH blog has kept you up to date with the latest news across addiction, domestic abuse, and homelessness. Following on from the blog detailing a day in the office, we thought it would be a good idea to shed light on some of the remarkable people working at FPH, thus beginning the “Meet the team” series.

At First People Housing CIC, we believe that healing can begin with something as simple—and as profound—as a handful of soil.

For those taking brave steps after addiction, stepping out of homelessness, or finding footing again after prison, the world can feel like it’s spinning too fast. A steady hand, a clear purpose, and a space to simply be—these things are more than comforts. They're lifelines. And sometimes, those lifelines begin in the most unexpected places.

Like a 225 square metre patch of green, waiting to be loved into life.

The longstanding housing crisis is one of the most noteworthy challenges facing the UK in 2025. It is an issue that evokes passionate responses from people all over the political, societal, and economic spectrum as it ultimately affects us all, albeit some more than others.

First People Housing (FPH) was founded in 2022 with a clear mission: to improve the standard of living for some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Drawing on a wealth of experience across housing and support services, FPH has built a strong reputation for providing temporary housing to individuals facing significant life challenges—including those experiencing homelessness, substance misuse, a history of offending, and domestic abuse.

Selflessness is an interesting idea. We all believe we are, even when we see examples of it that outweigh our own behaviours. We all see selfish people, acts and words, and complain to companions that we would never do or say those things – we’re not selfish after all. And yet, most of us dedicate the majority of our lives to the betterment of ourselves. We embrace mantras like “looking after numero uno” and “treating ourselves”. There is nothing wrong with that – there’s no such thing as a free lunch and none of us work for free.

Masculinity is a strange concept. One mans masculine is another mans feminine, we all know what it means but we disagree what it constitutes and in reality, it’s a socially constructed idea based on nothing but stories. And yet, it means a lot to people, and it has great societal impact, particularly with regard to men’s mental health.

This is a great time of year for those of us who enjoy rallying the mates and going for a pint. The Six Nations is on, the Premier League and Champions League are running simultaneously, and it’s the shortest month of the year to receive your salary – all great excuses to stop by the King of Prussia on your commute home. 

As we approach the spring, it’s easy for us to look forward to brighter mornings, getting home while it’s still light outside, and perhaps even a visit to the pub garden. These are reasons for positivity in gloomy February. With that being said, it is still the most difficult time of the year for those in the unfortunate position of sleeping rough. It’s still bitterly cold outside, it still feels dark for most of the day and the levels of homeless and rough sleepers on the streets are still astronomical.

Sir Tony Blair is one of the most polarising and influential figures in modern British history. While there is definitely no shortage of written words concerning his time as Prime Minister and his decisions since, I felt somewhat compelled to write about his comments regarding mental health on a podcast last week.

As we head close the book on 2024, it’s fair to say there were seismic changes in the UK in the past year. The Labour landslide of July and public attitudes in December show that a lot can happen in a very short space of time.