Beth Watts-Cobbe
@bethwcobbe.bsky.social
Professor and Deputy Director @i-sphere.bsky.social Research homelessness, destitution, and social responses to them.
Context: Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins is playing.
E (3yo): Mummy, I went to the danger zone once. A long time ago. With daddy.
E (3yo): Mummy, I went to the danger zone once. A long time ago. With daddy.
November 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Context: Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins is playing.
E (3yo): Mummy, I went to the danger zone once. A long time ago. With daddy.
E (3yo): Mummy, I went to the danger zone once. A long time ago. With daddy.
Dormitory-style night shelters tackling street homelessness are harmful. At best, they protect an already very disadvantaged group from some harms, while generating & deepening manifold others. Nor do they reliably lead to sustainable rehousing... ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ij...
Beyond Shelters: Unpacking Global Lessons from Scotland’s Journey Towards Housing Justice
| International Journal on Homelessness
ojs.lib.uwo.ca
September 24, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Dormitory-style night shelters tackling street homelessness are harmful. At best, they protect an already very disadvantaged group from some harms, while generating & deepening manifold others. Nor do they reliably lead to sustainable rehousing... ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ij...
Really pleased to see this from SMF, showing the role that Housing First needs to play in finally, sustainably, turning the tide on rough sleeping in England. I hope those working on the *much anticipated* cross-government homelessness strategy are taking note.
When did Government stop caring about rough sleeping?
In his latest briefing, @gideonsalutin.bsky.social argues for a proven approach that cuts homelessness and generates nearly £200m in net fiscal benefits. 💡
🧵What is it—and does it work?
In his latest briefing, @gideonsalutin.bsky.social argues for a proven approach that cuts homelessness and generates nearly £200m in net fiscal benefits. 💡
🧵What is it—and does it work?
September 17, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Really pleased to see this from SMF, showing the role that Housing First needs to play in finally, sustainably, turning the tide on rough sleeping in England. I hope those working on the *much anticipated* cross-government homelessness strategy are taking note.
Wall to wall dads (except me) at the toddler trampolining session this morning, and absolutely no mystery to me why. Jeez!
July 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Wall to wall dads (except me) at the toddler trampolining session this morning, and absolutely no mystery to me why. Jeez!
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts.
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Labour’s social security reforms ignore devolution - British Politics and Policy at LSE
The Goverment's social security reforms ignore the fact that they will have different consequences depending on which part of the UK one lives in.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
July 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Some heatwave weekend reading on why devolution needs to be talked about more in connection with the disability social security cuts.
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
@lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social blog w/ @safety-nets.bsky.social colleagues @haylesben.bsky.social @sionedps.bsky.social
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
The trial 56-day 'move-on' period for newly-recognised refugees to find somewhere to live has been extended, the government has confirmed.
Home Office extends 56-day 'move-on' period for refugees
www.bigissue.com
July 11, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The trial 56-day 'move-on' period for newly-recognised refugees to find somewhere to live has been extended, the government has confirmed.
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
Groundbreaking new research by @i-sphere.bsky.social finds Black families have to disguise their identities to avoid #discrimination in housing, employment & essential services
More here: tinyurl.com/2etwp8ny
#HeriotWattUni #Homelessness
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
More here: tinyurl.com/2etwp8ny
#HeriotWattUni #Homelessness
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
Black and minoritised people feel forced to disguise their identities
Race, Ethnicity and Homelessness research by I-SPHERE at Heriot-Watt University finds Black homeless families feel forced to disguise their identities
tinyurl.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Groundbreaking new research by @i-sphere.bsky.social finds Black families have to disguise their identities to avoid #discrimination in housing, employment & essential services
More here: tinyurl.com/2etwp8ny
#HeriotWattUni #Homelessness
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
More here: tinyurl.com/2etwp8ny
#HeriotWattUni #Homelessness
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞
An analysis of 750,000 household records from the statutory homelessness system reveals that only 10% of Black families gained social housing compared to 24% of White families. doi.org/10.17861/D78...
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
An analysis of 750,000 household records from the statutory homelessness system reveals that only 10% of Black families gained social housing compared to 24% of White families. doi.org/10.17861/D78...
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 7:02 AM
𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞
An analysis of 750,000 household records from the statutory homelessness system reveals that only 10% of Black families gained social housing compared to 24% of White families. doi.org/10.17861/D78...
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
An analysis of 750,000 household records from the statutory homelessness system reveals that only 10% of Black families gained social housing compared to 24% of White families. doi.org/10.17861/D78...
@raceontheagenda.bsky.social @crisis-uk.bsky.social
Sad news indeed
The closing of Abrdn’s Fair Finance Trust is grim news. I had funding from them into shared ownership and found them all staff great to work with. Big loss to difficult social policy research funding landscape. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
To all who think capitalism can drive progressive change, it won’t – and here’s the shocking proof | Polly Toynbee
Asset manager Aberdeen’s surprise cut to funding research into inequality has left those that used its grants for good work reeling, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
www.theguardian.com
July 1, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Sad news indeed
It was a real pleasure to be able to mark and celebrate Maggie Brunjes - the inimitable, legendary Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland - receiving an honorary doctorate from @heriotwattuni.bsky.social last week. Congratulations Maggie on all of your achievements.
June 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It was a real pleasure to be able to mark and celebrate Maggie Brunjes - the inimitable, legendary Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland - receiving an honorary doctorate from @heriotwattuni.bsky.social last week. Congratulations Maggie on all of your achievements.
Loki is giving military leader vibes today.
June 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Loki is giving military leader vibes today.
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
Free School Meals support in the holidays is now the largest category of Household Support Fund expenditure.
This is arguably not an ideal use of what is supposed to be crisis support funding and would be better covered by an increased Free School Meals budget instead.
This is arguably not an ideal use of what is supposed to be crisis support funding and would be better covered by an increased Free School Meals budget instead.
May 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Free School Meals support in the holidays is now the largest category of Household Support Fund expenditure.
This is arguably not an ideal use of what is supposed to be crisis support funding and would be better covered by an increased Free School Meals budget instead.
This is arguably not an ideal use of what is supposed to be crisis support funding and would be better covered by an increased Free School Meals budget instead.
Love this - a really useful framing to help bolster the normative underpinnings of the social security system and employment support.
I've been thinking for a while that we should be talking more about the "social determinants of work". David Kingsley has got there first; great piece naming "the social determinants of employability" - housing insecurity, digital exclusion, mental health, access to care www.myiep.uk/blogs-and-op...
Detached but Not Disengaged: Reframing Employability Practice Through Community-Rooted Youth Work - The Institute of Employability Professionals
28/05/2025
www.myiep.uk
May 29, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Love this - a really useful framing to help bolster the normative underpinnings of the social security system and employment support.
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
Please join us on 20th May for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /Centre for Homelessness & Inclusion Health webinar with @popmhuk.bsky.social's Natasha Chilman on The public health significance of prior homelessness: findings on multimorbidity & mental health from a nationally representative survey...
May 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Please join us on 20th May for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /Centre for Homelessness & Inclusion Health webinar with @popmhuk.bsky.social's Natasha Chilman on The public health significance of prior homelessness: findings on multimorbidity & mental health from a nationally representative survey...
Please join us on 20th May for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /Centre for Homelessness & Inclusion Health webinar with @popmhuk.bsky.social's Natasha Chilman on The public health significance of prior homelessness: findings on multimorbidity & mental health from a nationally representative survey...
May 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Please join us on 20th May for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /Centre for Homelessness & Inclusion Health webinar with @popmhuk.bsky.social's Natasha Chilman on The public health significance of prior homelessness: findings on multimorbidity & mental health from a nationally representative survey...
In a long held tradition of watching zeitgeist TV shows years after their release, the time has come to watch Black Mirror…
What the actual *^%>?!
What the actual *^%>?!
May 13, 2025 at 8:09 PM
In a long held tradition of watching zeitgeist TV shows years after their release, the time has come to watch Black Mirror…
What the actual *^%>?!
What the actual *^%>?!
My daughter, 3, to our friend: “can I come to your house and see your mess?”
May 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
My daughter, 3, to our friend: “can I come to your house and see your mess?”
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
Of course I’d rather Labour had won the by-election and losing by six votes is astonishing.
But I hope Starmer takes the message that Reform are better at being Reform than Labour, and Labour’s best bet is to go back to being Labour.
But I hope Starmer takes the message that Reform are better at being Reform than Labour, and Labour’s best bet is to go back to being Labour.
May 2, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Of course I’d rather Labour had won the by-election and losing by six votes is astonishing.
But I hope Starmer takes the message that Reform are better at being Reform than Labour, and Labour’s best bet is to go back to being Labour.
But I hope Starmer takes the message that Reform are better at being Reform than Labour, and Labour’s best bet is to go back to being Labour.
Another dark day in UK politics. Devastating.
May 2, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Another dark day in UK politics. Devastating.
Lovely to end the week with this dropping onto the doormat. A real pleasure to be part of this collection with @lynnemcmordie.bsky.social, and a tiny part of a wider and brilliant flurry of work on structural injustice and Iris Marion Young’s ideas. Thanks @vmantouvalou.bsky.social!
April 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Lovely to end the week with this dropping onto the doormat. A real pleasure to be part of this collection with @lynnemcmordie.bsky.social, and a tiny part of a wider and brilliant flurry of work on structural injustice and Iris Marion Young’s ideas. Thanks @vmantouvalou.bsky.social!
Housing and Welfare Outcomes in Norway, with HOUSINGWEL/Oslo Met's Kristin Aarland and Jardar Sørvoll. April 29, 11am-12:15pm. Please join us for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /CHIH webinar. Sign up here: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Housing and Welfare Outcomes in Norway, with HOUSINGWEL/Oslo Met's Kristin Aarland and Jardar Sørvoll. April 29, 11am-12:15pm. Please join us for our next @i-sphere.bsky.social /CHIH webinar. Sign up here: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...
When people say ‘your daughter is fabulous, happy, secure… so you must be doing a great job’. As if they’re highly sceptical and reserving judgement. Could be luck so far, DNA. Let’s wait and see.
April 19, 2025 at 7:46 AM
When people say ‘your daughter is fabulous, happy, secure… so you must be doing a great job’. As if they’re highly sceptical and reserving judgement. Could be luck so far, DNA. Let’s wait and see.
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
I'm not allowed to share these kinds of scholarships though my university email anymore so am doing so here. Scholarships for members of the LGBTQ+ STEM community.
ostem.org/Page/scholar...
ostem.org/Page/scholar...
Scholarship Program - oSTEM, Inc.
oSTEM is a professional society for LGBTQ+ people in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We have collegiate and professional chapters across the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
ostem.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I'm not allowed to share these kinds of scholarships though my university email anymore so am doing so here. Scholarships for members of the LGBTQ+ STEM community.
ostem.org/Page/scholar...
ostem.org/Page/scholar...
Reposted by Beth Watts-Cobbe
"Local welfare alone can’t solve child poverty, but if well-funded it helps" - read new blog from some of the Safety Nets team including @haylesben.bsky.social and @bethwcobbe.bsky.social 👇
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
April 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"Local welfare alone can’t solve child poverty, but if well-funded it helps" - read new blog from some of the Safety Nets team including @haylesben.bsky.social and @bethwcobbe.bsky.social 👇
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Why we don’t need Westminster to tackle destitution in Scotland. I'm delighted to have co-written this piece in today's Herald with my @i-sphere.bsky.social colleague Rhiannon Sims...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
Scotland could end deprivation caused by hostile UK policies
In Scotland’s cities, people are going without the basics they need to survive. Locked out of work and government support, they rely on charities,…
www.heraldscotland.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Why we don’t need Westminster to tackle destitution in Scotland. I'm delighted to have co-written this piece in today's Herald with my @i-sphere.bsky.social colleague Rhiannon Sims...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...