Labour secures debate on Tory plans to close vital supported housing

Friday, 20 October 2017 13:31

Labour has secured an opposition day debate, due to take place next Wednesday (25 October), and will seek to pass a motion halting Conservative funding changes which are set to close vital supported housing for the homeless, elderly people, veterans and women who have fled from domestic violence. Under the Conservatives’ plans, cuts to housing benefit coming into force in April 2019 will cap support for housing costs at a new lower level, which charities and other...Request free trial

Under the Conservatives’ plans, cuts to housing benefit coming into force in April 2019 will cap support for housing costs at a new lower level, which charities and other housing organisations affected say could lead to the closure of many supported housing schemes.

John Healey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing said:

“The government’s defeat on Universal Credit shows that Parliament is determined to hold this Conservative government to account for its policy failings.

“On Wednesday Labour will call on the Government to drop plans for crude cuts which will close vital supported housing for thousands of vulnerable people including the homeless, elderly people with dementia, veterans and women fleeing domestic violence. We want to give MPs of all parties the chance to challenge Ministers to change course.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The debate will be opened by John Healey, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, and closed by Debbie Abrahams, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary.

Under the Conservatives’ plans, cuts to housing benefit coming into force in April 2019 will cap support for housing costs at a new lower level, which charities and other housing organisations affected say could lead to the closure of many supported housing schemes. 716,000 people live in supported housing: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/572454/rr927-supported-accommodation-review.pdf.

Even in advance of these cuts taking effect, these planned changes are already having a dramatic impact, with industry bodies saying that 85% of vital new supported housing developments have been cancelled or are on hold: http://www.housing.org.uk/press/press-releases/government-plans-cause-85-drop-in-new-homes-for-most-vulnerable/

The changes were included in the small-print of George Osborne’s 2015 Autumn Statement and first revealed by John Healey in December 2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35173650.