Grenfell Surveyor Had To Handle 130 Projects At Once

The council department responsible for checking the safety of the Grenfell Tower refurbishment was “swamped” with work as austerity-driven cuts slashed staff numbers and the key surveyor was left handling 130 projects at once, the public inquiry in the disaster has heard. John Hoban, senior building control surveyor at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), said councillors had signed off substantial cuts to the building control department piling work on the remaining staff. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/30/grenfell-surveyor-had-to-handle-130-projects-at-once-inquiry-hears 

Osborne Denies Austerity Caused Homelessness Crisis

George Osborne has denied that “a lack of money” following his harsh austerity programme was the cause of Britain’s homelessness crisis. The former Conservative chancellor dismissed growing warnings that the severe spending cuts he introduced were behind the explosion in rough sleeping, saying: “No, I entirely reject that. It’s not a lack of money. That’s not a consequence of austerity – that’s just a consequence of bad policy,” Mr Osborne insisted. The denial came despite the revelation that child homelessness is at a 12-year high, with 123,600 minors in temporary accommodation in England – a 70 per cent rise since the Conservatives came into power. Read more on the Independent website.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-osborne-austerity-homeless-crisis-housing-spending-cuts-economy-conservatives-a8695861.html

More Than 500,000 Supported By Foodbanks In Only Six Months

More than half a million people were supported by foodbanks in the first six months of this year, according to statistics from the Trussell Trust, as the number of families left dependent on foodbanks due to Government austerity measures is set to reach a record high in 2016. The staggering statistics reveal 519,342 three day emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis between April and September 2016, including 188,584 children. This is compared to 506,369 during the same period last year, with benefit delays and changes cited as the main reason people are forced to turn to foodbanks. Problems with benefits accounted for 44% of all referrals, followed by low-income caused by issues such as insecure employment. Read more on the Welfare Weekly website.

Social Housing Tenants Forced To Cut Back On Food And Heating

A damning new survey of ‘Quids in!’ readers reveals ongoing financial hardship among social housing tenants, as money worries leave some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society “hungry and cold”. The survey provides a snapshot into how Tory austerity has impacted on social housing tenants  over the last five years. It found that among working age tenants not in full-time employment, 44% skipped meals over the last year, while more than half (51%) were forced to turn off heating despite feeling cold. The survey also shows how money worries can have a detrimental impact on health and well-being, with 58% of those surveyed feeling frightened, anxious or depressed. Read more on Welfare Weekly.

Shadow Chancellor Promises Action On Homeless Families

Labour will provide accommodation for 100,000 children in homeless families, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has pledged. Speaking at the annual Labour Party conference in Brighton, McDonnell said ongoing austerity measures are hitting families hard. He said austerity is “not just a word” for the 100,000 children in homeless families who live in bed and breakfast or temporary accommodation. On behalf of this party I give those children my solemn promise that when we return to government we will build you all a decent and secure home in which to live,” he said. Figures published last week show that, as of the end of June, 66,980 individuals or families were registered as having no home of their own - an increase of 12 per cent from the same date last year.

A total of 99,080 children were among those living in temporary accommodation.   Read more on the Children & Young People Now website.

Time for a Landlord Tax

In an age of austerity landlords have made £177 billion in capital gain alone over the past five years. On top of this they have received £30-40 billion in rent a year, including about £9 billion a year in Housing Benefit. Landlords are able to outbid owner occupiers who don't realise a cash return in the same way, making the housing market skewed in their favour. They get Mortgage Interest relief that isn't available to homeowners, many loopholes for releasing capital gain without paying Capital Gains Tax, and a special landlord tax break called the "Wear and tear" allowance. When they're making so much money, we don't think they should be getting such huge taxpayer subsidies. Read more on the Generation Rent website.

Research Reveals Tenant Debt Is Widening Income Divide

Research into the impact of financial and economic changes on households has uncovered a widening income disparity between tenants, with additional debts reducing financial resilience for those at the bottom end. The longitudinal research project – Challenging Times, Changing Lives – follows 20 tenants, including single people and couples, over three years, to assess how people are coping with austerity measures, including changes to welfare benefits. The fourth report, in a series of six-monthly updates, reveals the lowest income group is experiencing a greater struggle than previously reported.  This group has taken on more debts to cover sudden and unforeseen changes in benefit entitlement and the deepening impact of the bedroom tax. Read more on the Riverside website.