Charity: Removing benefits for under-25s will increase homelessness
- 03 Oct
Homeless charity, Homeless Link, have spoken out against the prime ministers proposals to remove benefits from under-25s if re-elected.
Yesterday, in the closing speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester yesterday, David Cameron said that if his party was re-elected at the next election it would propose to remove benefits from those aged 25 and under.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said that removing housing benefit was likely to increase the amount of homeless people, reports Inside Housing.
"Many young people just don't have the option of living with their parents. For them housing benefit provides a vital safety net if they face abuse at home or their family has fallen apart. It also helps many young people in low paid jobs, who face high rents," he said. "Our research indicates that, at a time of record youth unemployment, more under-25 are seeking help with homelessness. ‘Housing benefit provides the breathing space many need to become independent. If benefits are removed without a credible alternative, we risk damaging the life chances young people and storing up problems for society in the long-run."
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