Benefits families ‘will go hungry to pay their rent’
HOMELESSNESS CHARITY WARNS OF POTENTIAL HARDSHIP
FAMILIES on housing benefit across Greater Manchester will be forced to give up food shopping to cover rent, a homelessness charity has warned.
A new report from Crisis has revealed that a shortfall between benefits and the actual cost of renting in the area will leave many unable to pay for other essentials such as groceries.
They’re calling on the government to increase investment in housing benefit to tackle the problem.
The data shows that within Greater Manchester, recipients will have to dip in to anywhere between 3 per cent and 44pc of their food shopping bill to cover the cost of rent, depending on where they live.
Jon Sparkes, chief executive at Crisis, said: “A safe and stable home is fundamental to our dignity and humanity.
“But every day, we hear of people becoming homeless or being pushed to the brink of losing the roof over their heads because of the constant pressure of trying to cover the cost of their rent.
“Paying the rent means families have no option but to make huge sacrifices on other basic necessities. We cannot let this continue.
“Housing benefit is an important tool and could be the quickest and most effective way to prevent homelessness, but due to years of cuts and freezes it simply does not cover people’s rent.
“With the right policies and investment, we can end homelessness.
“We urge the new government to act now and invest in housing benefit.”
The figures are broken down by what are known as Broad Rental Market Areas – areas where a person could reasonably be expected to live taking into account access to facilities and services. Rates of housing benefit, known as Local Housing Allowance, are based on private market rents being paid in each BRMA.
In 2011, LHA was set so people on low incomes could afford the cheapest 30pc of private rentals in their area.
However, following years of underinvestment, including a four-year freeze since 2016, the rates now fall short of the true cost of renting in many areas.
In the central Greater Manchester BRMA, the LHA for a two bedrooms is set at £123.58 a week, but the average weekly rent of the cheapest third of two bedroom properties comes to £149.59. It means those on housing benefit in the area will typically see a shortfall of £26.01 – 44pc of the national average weekly food shop (£59).
Those in southern Greater Manchester will be £17.55 short a week (30pc of the average grocery bill), those in Bolton and Bury £10.36 short (18pc), in Oldham and Rochdale £5.75 (10pc), Tameside and Glossop £5.76 (10pc) and in Wigan £1.58 (3pc).
A DWP spokesman said: “Since 2011 we’ve provided local authorities with more than £1bn to support the most vulnerable with discretionary housing payments and in 2020/2021 we will make an additional £40m available.”