Spring Budget Holds Little Hope For The Homeless
Those working with homelessness respond to The Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement, warning that the lack of focus on increasing welfare in line with inflation means the measures announced will do little to prevent a rise in homelessness.
Rick Henderson, CEO at Homeless Link the national membership charity for frontline homelessness organisations, said: “Today Rishi Sunak admitted that vulnerable households need targeted support to get through the coming few months of an unprecedented cost of living crisis. But unfortunately, by focusing on tax cuts for those in work, the measures announced don’t go anywhere near far enough to provide the stability the most vulnerable households need to avoid being pushed into homelessness.”
“While Sunak announced a range of policies to help people in work in the short-term, he has not listened to calls from across the political spectrum to invest in our struggling welfare system, and has almost entirely excluded those not in full-time work from consideration. Rather than relying on temporary fixes like the Household Support Fund, the Government should seek to make our welfare system fit for purpose by unfreezing LHA rates and restoring the Universal Credit £20 uplift to help those on low-incomes stay afloat and lead dignified lives. The £40 million cut to the Discretionary Housing Payment announced last week will not make this any easier.”
He added: “When the cost of living increases, homelessness does too. Those not in work will have to navigate the coming months with the support of a welfare system still reeling from recent cuts and continued shortages of homes for social rent. This could lead to a wave of homelessness and brings the Government’s target of ending rough sleeping by 2024 into serious question.”
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The Budget statement has left struggling renters out in the cold. Bills are skyrocketing and rents are higher than ever. Housing is at the root of the cost-of-living crisis, but the Chancellor hasn’t noticed.”
“Giving councils a bit more cash to help those struggling pay for eating and heating is something, but people still need somewhere to sleep if they can’t pay their rent. Housing benefit is still frozen at 2020 levels, even as rents have shot up, and discretionary housing support was slashed last week.”
She added: “If we’re going to prevent rising homelessness this year, housing benefit has to be fit for purpose. Long term, to insulate more people against cost-of-living shocks we need investment in social homes with affordable rents pegged to local incomes.”
The government has yet to respond to these criticisms.
