Housing benefit cuts to put 12,900 in region at risk of homelessness
CUTS in housing benefit will put more than 12,900 people in the East Midlands at risk of homelessness, according to the National Housing Federation.
It has warned that Budget plans to cut housing benefit by 10 per cent for people claiming jobseeker's allowance for 12 months or more would lead to real terms cuts of up to 50 per cent in disposable income for many claimants.
In Nottingham, the reduction in housing benefit would equate to a 14 per cent drop in disposable income for people claiming the maximum £90.90 a week.
The Federation, which represents England's housing associations, fears people will struggle to pay rent and fall into arrears, with most of them being evicted and ending up homeless.
As they would be deemed to be "at fault" for their eviction, they would generally be classed as intentionally homeless and would not be entitled to local authority emergency accommodation.
Neil Griffiths, regional manager for the National Housing Federation, said: "These cuts to housing benefit could well have a devastating impact."
6 Comments
by Dave, Radford
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 11:04AM
“As usual the right-wing nutters are out in force moaning about scroungers without any recognition that there some people at some times in their lives who find it impossible to support themselves. It is the bankers who've wrecked the economy who should pay - not people too poor to pay their rent.”
by mary, st anns
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:44PM
“bring back national service . it made a different man out of me”
by Young Man, About To Be Made Homeless
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 8:08PM
“Will anyone take me in?
I can do the washing up, ironing and hoovering naked for all you ladies.”
by onlooker, looking at the state of the place
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 7:37PM
“welcome to modern britain , sign on get alll the housing and chold benifits and the government will import someone to do the job that you can't be bothered to do .”
by mandy, Notts
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 6:43PM
“it's about time that our new goverment did something, we homeowners get no help ( if i become unemployed and i fail to pay my mortgage i will loose my home, if i was a council tennent i would get my rent paid for , because i want to better myself and own my own home i have to suffer.”
by Liz, Nottingham
Tuesday, July 20 2010, 4:36PM
“That's a harsh view, especially at a time when there are far more unemployed than there are jobs available for them.”