Report finds welfare reforms set to increase homelessness

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• 24 Jun

  A new report has revealed that the government's welfare reforms are likely to increase the number of homeless people in the UK.

  The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has suggested that the combined impact of the bedroom tax, benefit sanctions and problems accessing financial assistance at times of need is leading to risks of more people losing their homes in Scotland, reports 24dash. 

  The report highlights that tenancy sustainment is becoming increasingly difficult due to welfare reforms undermining housing associations' ability to help new and existing prospective tenants to sustain tenancies.

  SFHA policy manager David Ogilvie said: "We are seriously concerned about how welfare reforms are impacting upon homeless households taking up new tenancies. It's abundantly clear that the odds of these households being able to secure and sustain a suitable tenancy are being increasingly stacked against them. Despite social landlords' best efforts to provide as much help as they can to new tenants - be that in terms of making sure tenants have the basic essentials or the right advice and support - our research shows that the cumulative impact of the ‘bedroom tax', benefit sanctions and problems accessing financial assistance at times of crisis may drive up homelessness in Scotland. We would echo the words of the Welfare Reform Committee in its recently published report - we need a welfare system that is supportive, not punitive."

  What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions

  Image source: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/707084

  By Laura Matthews

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