How estate agent firms are cashing in on housing homeless families in London
How estate agent firms are cashing in on housing homeless families in London
‘Guaranteed rents’ sees middle-man firms paid millions to help London local authorities find temporary homes for a growing number of homeless families, a Big Issue investigation has found. It’s costing councils and risks pushing up rents in the English capital
Ignore the charts, Connect with fans, be weird on the internet: How to be a pop star in 2026
Ignore the charts, Connect with fans, be weird on the internet: How to be a pop star in 2026
Prime ministers keep getting forced out of Downing Street. Could fixing poverty save them?
Prime ministers keep getting forced out of Downing Street. Could fixing poverty save them?
Top Stories
Myles Smith: ‘I don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. My mum was the breadwinner growing up’
Myles Smith: ‘I don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. My mum was the breadwinner growing up’
Nationalisation, buses and homes for rough sleepers: This is what Andy Burnham’s Britain would look like
Nationalisation, buses and homes for rough sleepers: This is what Andy Burnham’s Britain would look like
Inside the Big Issue: Extract the juice with David Shrigley
Inside the Big Issue: Extract the juice with David Shrigley
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
I’m in the pulpit delivering a sermon on poverty. If only the government were here to hear it
I’m in the pulpit delivering a sermon on poverty. If only the government were here to hear it
Want to win private box tickets to Harry Styles at Wembley? Enter Big Issue’s 35th birthday auction
Want to win private box tickets to Harry Styles at Wembley? Enter Big Issue’s 35th birthday auction
Advice
Going into debt doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Here’s how to get help
Going into debt doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Here’s how to get help
How to manage your money if you become ill or disabled
How to manage your money if you become ill or disabled
Debunking money myths: Does checking your credit score lower it?
Debunking money myths: Does checking your credit score lower it?
Meet our vendors
Hamish Scott, Vision Express/Boots, Abergavenny: ‘I was homeless. I’d sleep on the bus to Ilford’
Hamish Scott, Vision Express/Boots, Abergavenny: ‘I was homeless. I’d sleep on the bus to Ilford’
Ahmed Hashi, Waterstones, The Hayes, Cardiff: ‘Once I put my Big Issue tabard on I’m in work mode’
Ahmed Hashi, Waterstones, The Hayes, Cardiff: ‘Once I put my Big Issue tabard on I’m in work mode’
Rodica-Felicia ‘Maria’ Stoica, M&S, West Bridgford, Nottingham: ‘I am looking for a place but it’s very hard’
Rodica-Felicia ‘Maria’ Stoica, M&S, West Bridgford, Nottingham: ‘I am looking for a place but it’s very hard’
Vendor news
Letters: Big Issue’s Changemakers showed that in dark times it’s important to have hope
Letters: Big Issue’s Changemakers showed that in dark times it’s important to have hope
Big Issue brand hits milestone of putting £200 million in vendors’ pockets worldwide
Big Issue brand hits milestone of putting £200 million in vendors’ pockets worldwide
What do the government’s vet prices reforms mean for pet owners?
What do the government’s vet prices reforms mean for pet owners?
I’m turning 80. My birthday wish? Take the Big Issue when you buy
I’m turning 80. My birthday wish? Take the Big Issue when you buy
Opinion
‘I heard a young man talk about Holocaust denial on a train. I couldn’t sit by and not challenge it’
‘I heard a young man talk about Holocaust denial on a train. I couldn’t sit by and not challenge it’
How getting young people into sport could save the UK millions
How getting young people into sport could save the UK millions
Higher defence spending won’t make Britain safer while families live in poverty
Higher defence spending won’t make Britain safer while families live in poverty
Renters will keep falling into debt until there’s proper action to tackle affordability of homes
Renters will keep falling into debt until there’s proper action to tackle affordability of homes
Newsletters
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Culture
The men who invented the concept of race
The men who invented the concept of race
What now functions as race in our collective consciousness stems from a variety of sources, many of which are lost in the sands of time
Ignore the charts, Connect with fans, be weird on the internet: How to be a pop star in 2026
Ignore the charts, Connect with fans, be weird on the internet: How to be a pop star in 2026
Myles Smith: ‘I don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. My mum was the breadwinner growing up’
Myles Smith: ‘I don’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. My mum was the breadwinner growing up’
Letter To My Younger Self
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
‘When my mates were playing football, I had to queue for my free meal. It was embarrassing’
‘When my mates were playing football, I had to queue for my free meal. It was embarrassing’
Sadiq Khan: ‘Maybe Trump fancies me, I don’t know. I’m happily married! I’m not interested’
Sadiq Khan: ‘Maybe Trump fancies me, I don’t know. I’m happily married! I’m not interested’
Cush Jumbo: ‘I didn’t come from a place where we could afford to pay for anything’
Cush Jumbo: ‘I didn’t come from a place where we could afford to pay for anything’
Most popular
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
Life
‘I’m infuriated that young people don’t get a say at elections. The minimum voting age is unfair’
‘I’m infuriated that young people don’t get a say at elections. The minimum voting age is unfair’
Going into debt doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Here’s how to get help
Going into debt doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Here’s how to get help
How to manage your money if you become ill or disabled
How to manage your money if you become ill or disabled
Letters: Education is on its knees. The government must take radical action to save it
Letters: Education is on its knees. The government must take radical action to save it
Inside The Big Issue
Inside the Big Issue: Extract the juice with David Shrigley
Inside the Big Issue: Extract the juice with David Shrigley
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Sign up to the Letter To My Younger Self Extra newsletter to go beyond the biggest interviews
Want to win private box tickets to Harry Styles at Wembley? Enter Big Issue’s 35th birthday auction