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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/nov/01/housing-benefit-cap-homelessness-children-government-plans
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| Capping benefits will hit those already most at risk of homelessness | Capping benefits will hit those already most at risk of homelessness |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A commitment to tackle the housing crisis will simply not work if policies that penalise the most vulnerable households run parallel to any new measures to boost house building. The lower benefit cap that comes into effect on 7 November is an example of an initiative that risks doing just that. | |
| The cap restricts the total amount of benefit a household can receive to £20,000 – or £23,000 in London, down from the existing limit of £26,000 across the country. This may sound like a small change, but it is very significant. Our research shows nearly 120,000 families across the UK will be affected by the cap. In some cases, they will lose up to £115 a week – a huge amount of money for an individual, let alone a family, already struggling. | The cap restricts the total amount of benefit a household can receive to £20,000 – or £23,000 in London, down from the existing limit of £26,000 across the country. This may sound like a small change, but it is very significant. Our research shows nearly 120,000 families across the UK will be affected by the cap. In some cases, they will lose up to £115 a week – a huge amount of money for an individual, let alone a family, already struggling. |
| The lower benefit cap demonstrates a lack of strategy because it will hit those most at risk of homelessness | The lower benefit cap demonstrates a lack of strategy because it will hit those most at risk of homelessness |
| When the first cap was introduced, it primarily affected families in Londonand those with more than five children. This time, well over 300,000 children will be affected across the UK. The vast majority of households, three-quarters in fact, have two or three children. | When the first cap was introduced, it primarily affected families in Londonand those with more than five children. This time, well over 300,000 children will be affected across the UK. The vast majority of households, three-quarters in fact, have two or three children. |
| This is one of a number of policies that undermines some of what we have heard from the government in recent weeks. The chancellor Philip Hammond has said he wants to use “all of the tools” to make housing more affordable, and the welfare system is one of the most important. | This is one of a number of policies that undermines some of what we have heard from the government in recent weeks. The chancellor Philip Hammond has said he wants to use “all of the tools” to make housing more affordable, and the welfare system is one of the most important. |
| Families who have their weekly income slashed when this measure comes into effect will be at serious risk of homelessness. Our analysis shows that the new cap makes housing in many parts of the country virtually inaccessible to them. | Families who have their weekly income slashed when this measure comes into effect will be at serious risk of homelessness. Our analysis shows that the new cap makes housing in many parts of the country virtually inaccessible to them. |
| Homelessness in England has risen steadily since 2010 and the homelessness reduction bill has just passed its second reading in parliament. If it becomes legislation, it will place responsibility on local authorities to house all homeless people – a move that could give us the impetus we need to tackle the issue. But the benefit cap is an example of a policy that demonstrates a lack of strategy because it will hit those already most at risk of homelessness. | Homelessness in England has risen steadily since 2010 and the homelessness reduction bill has just passed its second reading in parliament. If it becomes legislation, it will place responsibility on local authorities to house all homeless people – a move that could give us the impetus we need to tackle the issue. But the benefit cap is an example of a policy that demonstrates a lack of strategy because it will hit those already most at risk of homelessness. |
| That the government is committing publicly to measures to tackle our housing crisis can only be a good thing, but all of the tools must mean all of the tools. We will never make a difference until welfare policies are joined up with housing. | That the government is committing publicly to measures to tackle our housing crisis can only be a good thing, but all of the tools must mean all of the tools. We will never make a difference until welfare policies are joined up with housing. |
| Policies like this risk hitting exactly the sort of families Theresa May has promised to help, to make a Britain “which works for everyone”. | Policies like this risk hitting exactly the sort of families Theresa May has promised to help, to make a Britain “which works for everyone”. |
| Sign up for your free Guardian Housing network newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you on the last Friday of the month. Follow us:@GuardianHousing | Sign up for your free Guardian Housing network newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you on the last Friday of the month. Follow us:@GuardianHousing |
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