Posted 05.02.16
The UK government should think again on a benefit cut that will affect some of the most vulnerable people in our society, according to the President of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).
CIH has called for supported housing (which caters for vulnerable people such as people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence) to be exempt from government plans to cap Housing Benefit for social housing at Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates (the amount of Housing Benefit people living in the private rented sector are able to claim).
LHA is limited to the cheapest 30% of private rents in the local area. But because rents in supported housing tend to be higher - reflecting the extra costs associated with the additional management and extra facilities needed - organisations that provide housing for older people, people with disabilities, people with mental health needs and victims of domestic abuse could be left with huge shortfalls and projects may be forced to close.
Speaking at CIH's Presidential Dinner, President Geraldine Howley said:
"There are encouraging signs that the Government is determined to take action to address our housing crisis - something we very much welcome.
"But there are areas where it needs to think again or to take more action. We have challenged the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance for the social sector - it risks real, long-term damage, especially to supported and specialist housing."
CIH is celebrating its centenary in 2016 and Geraldine, who is Group Chief Executive of Incommunities in Bradford, paid tribute to the work housing professionals have done to transform people's lives and communities over the past 100 years.
