I'd like to start this blog with an apology for having not written in so long. The start back at university has been harder than I thought it would be, and the newspaper is slowly taking over my entire life, although I'm absolutely loving it. I'm going to be easing myself back into it now between my dissertation and sleeping, so you'll hopefully be hearing a lot more of my opinionated rants.
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I don't know if I've ever made it quite clear in my previous posts, but I'm really not the biggest fan of the present government. I don't enjoy the cuts in spending affecting our frontline services to the extent that now even the Police wouldn't recommend themselves (you can read the story here), the removal of benefits from those who need them most (link here) and the withdrawal of housing benefit for those aged under 25, and overall, their pig-headed attitude. It's hurting, but it's not necessarily working - yes, I admit that we are technically out of recession, but remember, dead cats bounce, too. I wouldn't be surprised if we slip back into negative growth while we don't have the Olympics to help us.
The proposed capping of housing benefit also begs to be believed (links here and here). Yes, I understand the main argument that benefit claimants living in houses far more expensive than others in work could ever dream to afford is unfair, but there are several points that should be addressed.
Firstly, the majority of those on housing benefit are employed, but on low incomes that make them eligible for the benefit (a guide to housing benefit entitlement). Under the new rules, 70% of rented accommodation will cost more than the housing benefit payments people receive. If you're working 40 hours a week on the national minimum wage, finding the extra money that you need to pay the rent may mean the difference between surviving and going under. With the dearth of good quality, affordable housing in this country, moving somewhere smaller isn't necessarily an option, especially if you need to be in a certain area for working, education, or family committments.
Whilst we're here, I'd like to try and clear something up. Benefits are not an opportunity to live in luxury. Yes, there are some people who abuse the system. There are people who appear to be living the good life while doing absolutely bugger all for it, but the vast majority of the time, it isn't like that.
People don't seem to understand that many people are only entitled to Job Seeker's Allowance - which gives you the sum of up to £71 per person, per week. (Proof is here)If you're one of the victims of the recession who became redundant then chances are that's a massive drop in income for you, and you probably won't be eligible for any other assistance. So please, before you complain about benefits, please consider what people are actually entitled to, and don't just look at the media hype.
Getting back on topic... It is with great interest today that I read some local authorities in London will be sending their homeless families away from the capital, despite rules stating that they should aim to house them locally. (The Guardian) (Wales Online).
Why are they doing this? Essentially, there are not enough homes that are suitable for families, and that fall within the housing benefit cap within the capital. With how unpopular this policy is bound to be, and with Boris Johnson already having likened it to ethnic cleansing, it would appear that the Tories are about to have a gaping bullet wound in their foot.
Forgetting for a moment the impact that this policy will have upon those families forced to move, the areas that they will be moved to will also suffer. One of the places mentioned in the plans is Merthyr Tydfil, a place already reknowned for its economic disadvantage and high rates of long-term unemployment. Housing may be cheaper, but there are no advantages to moving people here, especially as Wales struggles with meeting its own housing needs at present.
So what can be done about this problem? Well, perhaps we should look back to the time in the when Britain had an extensive policy of rent controls in the 1940s and 50s, meaning that housing was affordable for all. We need to reinvest in building social housing, creating jobs and homes, as well as boosting the economy. The national mindset of owning our homes needs to change, too, although I accept that this won't be possible until there are viable alternatives to mortgaging yourself to the eyeballs for your entire working life in order to have a secure tenure.
I know that creating extensive housing policy has never been one the strong point of any Conservative government, but I think it's about time they woke up and realised the amount of flak they're about to come in for.
Families are not homeless through fault of their own, it is often poorly thought out policy that's to blame, so why make them suffer even more?
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