Responding to new figures showing that proposed government
cuts could mean an 85 per cent drop in new supported
housing,Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Housing
MP, said:
"For almost two years, Labour has warned the Government that
its plan for cuts to supported housing are set to have a
terrible impact on accommodation for elderly and vulnerable
people. These figures prove that this is already happening
with thousands of vital new specialist homes on hold or
cancelled.
"This is a damaging and short-sighted policy proposal which
Ministers have already been forced to delay and
then amend under pressure from Labour and housing
organisations.
"Supported housing is vital for elderly and vulnerable
people across the country. Before the damage gets any
worse, Ministers must halt these crude cuts and work
with the housing sector to produce a new plan to
put supported housing on a sustainable footing."
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The National Housing Federation - the trade body for
housing associations in England - has surveyed 69
associations who together deliver a third of supported and
sheltered housing in England. The survey has found that
plans to build new supported and sheltered homes have been cut
from 8,800 to 1,350 units as a result of impending cuts to
housing benefit for supported housing tenants - a fall of 85%.
- first raised the threat of
hidden housing benefit cuts to supported housing in
2015: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35173650.
- In September 2016, Ministers proposed amendments to
the policy and delayed implementation until 2019/20.
They subsequently promised the publication of a green paper
following the 2017 general election. This has yet to be produced.
- In their 2017 housing manifesto 'Labour's New Deal on
Housing', Labour said: "We will halt the government’s plans
to change the way supported and sheltered housing
is funded which charities, housing associations and councils
all say will lead to the closure of
homelessness hostels and other vital housing for some
of the most vulnerable people in our country. We’ll work
with the housing sector to bring forward a new plan
to fund this vital housing adequately for the
long-term." http://www.labour.org.uk/page/-/PDFs/MIni-Housing-Manifesto.pdf
