Protections for families on the breadline during the pandemic
should be withdrawn cautiously to avoid derailing the national
recovery and prevent a surge in households unable to pay their
bills or rent, a new report by the District Councils’ Network
warns today.
The report ‘Building back better – leaving no-one behind’, says
the Government should keep in place some measures to prevent
hardship and homelessness, such as increasing the Local Housing
Allowance, while schemes like the furlough scheme and the
eviction ban are withdrawn.
It warns that nearly 9 in 10 councils are expecting sharp
increases in homelessness if some measures are pulled too fast.
The DCN, which represents 180 district councils responsible for
supporting families and people on the breadline, says removing
all the protective measures at once would risk plunging many
families into crisis, undermining the efforts to support them
across the pandemic.
It warns the Government to “retreat carefully” from the
significant interventions it has made to protect people during
the coronavirus crisis.
The stark warnings come as a survey of district councils by the
DCN found:-
- 87 per cent of councils expect sharp increases in
homelessness should some of the emergency measures be withdrawn
- Nearly half reported an increase in the need to mediate with
landlords to support tenancies during the pandemic, despite the
eviction ban
- Nine in 10 saw increases in the use of foodbanks in their
local area
While measures such as the furlough scheme and evictions ban
cannot and should not continue forever, the DCN says the
Government cannot pull the plug on these sorts of initiatives
immediately either without having the right local support to help
people at risk.
The DCN is calling for:
- Retention of the increase in the Local Housing Allowance so
that benefits can keep people in their homes
- A “flexible prevention pot” for districts to work locally to
solve problems and help people experiencing hardship and debt.
- A careful phasing out of the job retention scheme for
different sectors over different periods, protecting people in
the hardest hit sectors for longer.
It also says all future funding for addressing hardship, poverty
and homelessness must be channelled through district councils,
which have the on-the-ground expertise, knowledge and direct
connections with households.
District councils know those in greatest need and have the
mechanisms through direct help hubs, assistance schemes and local
volunteer networks - such as with food banks and local charities
– to quickly get help to those on the breadline.
Cllr Giles Archibald, the District Councils’ Network’s Better
Lives spokesperson, said:
“The coronavirus crisis has hit many people hard and the economic
impact will continue to be felt for some time.
“Therefore it is vital, that as we come out of the pandemic, we
don’t rush to unravel the unprecedented level of support the
Government rightly provided to protect families at risk of
hardship and homelessness.
“Everyone understands interventions like the furlough scheme and
evictions ban cannot continue forever, but we cannot pull them
all away overnight either.
“The Government must retreat carefully from these big national
interventions, while equipping local district councils with the
funding and flexibility to solve problems before they grow in
impact and cost.”
“As we build back better, we must ensure councils can ensure
no-one is left behind.”
