Benefit reforms ‘put young on the streets’

TORY welfare reforms have caused a rise in homelessness among young people, a report warns today.

Charity Homeless Link found 92% of organisations that work with rough sleepers said delayed Universal Credit payments were making the problem worse.

Some 55% recorded rising demand for services in the past year and a quarter of clients were aged 16 to 24.

While family breakdown was the main cause of homelessness, the changes to benefit entitlement were considered a “significant” factor.

The charity said: “Issues such as welfare reform and the housing crisis are worsening the situation.”