2026 Reporting Homelessness Prize Finalist

Asha Birdi

SWLondoner, Ilford Recorder

Asha Birdi is a freelance journalist, who has previously covered housing, local politics, and social issues for outlets like The Fence, Newsquest, and The Londoners. She is passionate about public-interest journalism and produces social media videos exploring political and cultural questions.

Her shortlisted pieces were:

• Record-high levels of London households in temporary accommodation
• Redbridge Council has family in ‘uncomfortable’ hostel room for months

Street homelessness can sometimes feel like a familiar story, so it has been so refreshing to see young journalists like Asha engaging with really important issues like temporary accommodation and the experiences of people living in these difficult conditions.

– Ligia Teixeira, Judge, The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2026