Morning Briefing: cladding to be removed from Cardiff towers

A group of mothers dependent on Universal Credit have taken the government to court arguing that the system disproportionately affects single parents, the BBC reports.

It comes as the Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes a report concluding that government spending cuts, including welfare reforms and the curbing of social housing funding, constitute a breach of the UK’s human rights obligations, per The Guardian.

Elsewhere, Building magazine runs a longer piece examining London’s need for housing, and whether Sadiq Khan will hit his targets.

And housing charity Shelter has released figures, covered by The Independent, showing that nearly half the calls it receives are from families on the brink of homelessness – with the proportion growing 8% in the past year.

Finally, The Guardian runs a comment piece about how spending one night sleeping rough changed the author’s perception of homelessness.

On social media

Paul Hackett, chief executive of Optivo and chair of the G15 group of major London housing associations, has given his thoughts on the Building article:

Interesting article on housing delivery in London. I’m convinced Mayor was right to introduce transparent 35% tariff -but impact of referendum hasn’t helped sentiment. A solution article doesn’t mention is giving Mayor more land assembly powers. #ukhousing t.co/wytXwnO4OP

— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10)

Interesting article on housing delivery in London. I’m convinced Mayor was right to introduce transparent 35% tariff -but impact of referendum hasn’t helped sentiment. A solution article doesn’t mention is giving Mayor more land assembly powers. #ukhousing https://t.co/wytXwnO4OP

— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10) November 28, 2018

Meanwhile, it appears former housing minister Alok Sharma – who is now employment minister – is trying to apply some knowledge of the sector in his new role:

Delighted to have Employment Minister @AlokSharma_RDG helping to launch our #Communitiesthatwork campaign and talking about the importance of the work that housing associations do to help people into work, but acknowledging that we have more work to do, together. #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/HTXSzV0W6Y

— Give us a Chance (@GUACjobs)

Delighted to have Employment Minister @AlokSharma_RDG helping to launch our #Communitiesthatwork campaign and talking about the importance of the work that housing associations do to help people into work, but acknowledging that we have more work to do, together. #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/HTXSzV0W6Y

— Give us a Chance (@GUACjobs) November 27, 2018

And Lewisham Council has launched a new social housing campaign:

Today we launched No Place Like Home. We face the greatest housing crisis in a generation. That is why social housing is a priority for @LewishamCouncil - everyone deserves a decent home #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/DQKnUHoncB

— Cllr Paul Bell (@PaulBell1971)

Today we launched No Place Like Home. We face the greatest housing crisis in a generation. That is why social housing is a priority for @LewishamCouncil - everyone deserves a decent home #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/DQKnUHoncB

— Cllr Paul Bell (@PaulBell1971) November 27, 2018

What’s on

• Prime Minister’s Questions will take place in the House of Commons at midday
• After that MPs will hold a 10-Minute Rule debate on fire safety in leasehold homes
• At 4.30pm, there will be a Westminster Hall debate about sex for rent
• The Homes 2018 conference kicks off in London today