No, they don't claim to run soup kitchens or housing for the homeless. They are an organisation that gives out housing advice and lobby local and national government on housing issues for the poor. And, yes, they employ lawyers.
However the UK Government's 2009/10 social housing budget was £3.3bn. £50m is a drop in the ocean in this sector.
I suspected there was a wrinkle I was missing. So what might be the root of gaius's claim about their public image? Do they run a lot of adverts implying something different?
I'm not too concerned about their size relative to the whole "homeless budget", but how much of their income is spent on direct benefit to the people they are chartered to help. I'm also concerned about their "implied accomplishments" versus their actual accomplishments,ie image vs reality.
From what I can tell, about 60% of their income goes to the salaries of front-line people (legal and housing advice). 28% went to operational expenses (fundraising and "shelter shops"). The rest is advertising and paperwork.
However the UK Government's 2009/10 social housing budget was £3.3bn. £50m is a drop in the ocean in this sector.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11570923