A scheme helping Scottish low-income households avoid
homelessness will receive an additional £2 million this year.
The Discretionary Housing Payment scheme provides direct
financial support to low-income households struggling with
housing costs and helps people to retain their tenancy in the
rented sector.
The additional funding takes this year's investment in the scheme
to a record £117 million. This will help an estimated 100,000
households in Scotland sustain their tenancies. The scheme is the
main way the Scottish Government mitigates the impacts of the UK
Government's bedroom tax' and benefit cap.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing said:
Our Discretionary Housing Payments are a vital lifeline to
families at risk of losing their home and help protect people
from the UK Government's damaging bedroom tax and benefit cap
policies.
Our scheme is delivering and providing direct support to
low-income households helping to reduce poverty, safeguard
tenancies and prevent homelessness. In Scotland, we offer a level
of support not available elsewhere in the UK, and our different
approach is working.
However, the UK Government's decision to freeze the support given
to private renters at 2024 levels means people are struggling to
pay their housing costs this is driving homelessness and putting
families at serious risk. I am extremely disappointed the
Chancellor chose not to use his Budget to end the freeze and give
households the breathing space they desperately need.
