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'Work or lose home' says minister 'Work or lose home' says minister
(40 minutes later)
Council tenants who do not work should seek employment or face losing their homes, the new housing minister Caroline Flint has proposed.Council tenants who do not work should seek employment or face losing their homes, the new housing minister Caroline Flint has proposed.
In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Flint suggested new applicants for social housing should be given "commitment contracts".In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Flint suggested new applicants for social housing should be given "commitment contracts".
The scheme would not be aimed at genuine incapacity benefit claimants.The scheme would not be aimed at genuine incapacity benefit claimants.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said the idea was "meaningless" as it could not be legally enforced.Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said the idea was "meaningless" as it could not be legally enforced.
Half of all households paid for by benefits are without work, the Hills report published last February showed.Half of all households paid for by benefits are without work, the Hills report published last February showed.
'Culture change' What is being proposed would destroy families and communities and add to the thousands who are already homeless Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson
Many of these are under-25.
Ms Flint will discuss the issue in a speech at the Fabian Society on Tuesday, through which it is thought she hopes to start a debate on a "something for something" culture.Ms Flint will discuss the issue in a speech at the Fabian Society on Tuesday, through which it is thought she hopes to start a debate on a "something for something" culture.
She told the Guardian: "It would be a big change of culture from the time when the council handed someone the keys and forgot about them for 30 years.She told the Guardian: "It would be a big change of culture from the time when the council handed someone the keys and forgot about them for 30 years.
"The question we should ask of new tenants is what commitment they will make to improve their skills, find work and take the support that is available.""The question we should ask of new tenants is what commitment they will make to improve their skills, find work and take the support that is available."
It is understood that Ms Flint, who has just moved to housing from the Department of Work and Pensions, is keen to look at the link between housing and economic inactivity.It is understood that Ms Flint, who has just moved to housing from the Department of Work and Pensions, is keen to look at the link between housing and economic inactivity.
Living in an area where there is a concentration of unemployment can be a deterrent to finding work, she said.Living in an area where there is a concentration of unemployment can be a deterrent to finding work, she said.
'Peer pressure''Peer pressure'
"If you are in a family, an estate or a neighbourhood where nobody works, that impacts on your own aspiration. It is a form of peer pressure.""If you are in a family, an estate or a neighbourhood where nobody works, that impacts on your own aspiration. It is a form of peer pressure."
The new contracts would apply to new council tenants at first, but could be extended to existing tenants.The new contracts would apply to new council tenants at first, but could be extended to existing tenants.
HAVE YOUR SAY Every unemployed person should be made to look for work, or have work given to them James Mac Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Every unemployed person should be made to look for work, or have work given to them James Mac Send us your comments
More job centres could be opened on the estates themselves to tackle pockets of joblessness.More job centres could be opened on the estates themselves to tackle pockets of joblessness.
Ms Flint also said tenants who moved to take a job would be given priority in finding a new home.Ms Flint also said tenants who moved to take a job would be given priority in finding a new home.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said Ms Flint was trying to "grab the headlines" with proposals that could not be legally enforced.Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said Ms Flint was trying to "grab the headlines" with proposals that could not be legally enforced.
"Ministers and local councils have a statutory duty to house homeless families with children and so they can't boot them out of their houses without then providing alternative accommodation," he said."Ministers and local councils have a statutory duty to house homeless families with children and so they can't boot them out of their houses without then providing alternative accommodation," he said.
"What we've heard is classic Labour spin - designed to sound tough, but is in reality meaningless.""What we've heard is classic Labour spin - designed to sound tough, but is in reality meaningless."
Housing charity Shelter condemned the suggestion, saying the government wanted to return unemployed people to the workhouse "by throwing them onto the streets".
Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson said: "What is being proposed would destroy families and communities and add to the thousands who are already homeless.
"We accept there's a problem with some unemployed people shying away from work, but the government must find other ways to tackle the issue like revamping the housing benefit system.
"Making people homeless means they do not have an address, which makes it even more difficult to find work."
The speech will be the first made by Ms Flint in her new post.The speech will be the first made by Ms Flint in her new post.