Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths has today called on the UK Government to protect vulnerable tenants in supported housing from planned changes to housing benefit.
The UK Government has announced it will be capping housing benefit for people living within the social rented sector at the same level for people living in the private sector.
Supported housing is incredibly important to many vulnerable people, including older people, people with disabilities, homeless people, and those suffering from substance misuse problems. The sector typically has higher rents than those charged in the private sector, because of the necessary services provided, such as personal care, support or supervision.
The failure to exempt supported housing from the changes would mean many vulnerable people would be unable to pay their rent, putting them at risk of becoming homeless, and threatening their health and well-being. The change would also affect the financial viability of our supported housing sector as a whole, with providers already concerned they may be forced to close existing schemes and reconsider going ahead with new schemes.
Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, has today written to Lord Freud, the UK Government Minister for Welfare Reform, to urge him to exempt supported housing from the changes.
Lesley Griffiths said:
“Supported housing plays a vital role in caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. The sector provides far more than simply accommodation – it offers a whole range of support, from 24 hour emergency response services for older people, to therapy for people suffering from mental health problems.
“This level of support means rents are typically higher than in the public sector. To punish vulnerable tenants for the services they need to live independently would be unjust and counterproductive.
“I understand the policy is still being formulated, and with this in mind I have written to Lord Freud to urge him to exempt supported housing from the proposed changes.”
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