Government should pay

Council officers say that the worrying rise in the number of homeless families needing help is, at least in part, due to changes in the way benefits are paid and the introduction of Universal Credit. In short, it’s believed landlords are more reluctant to take on tenants on benefits as a result of the changes. The city council is hoping to secure more properties but in the meantime the Government should step in to fund the £1m bill for housing homeless families in local Travelodges. The issue is deeply worrying and should have been anticipated by the council and the Government. The reaction of some landlords to Universal Credit was predictable even if it is not necessarily right or fair.