Housing minister Grant Shapps has stood by the Government's cuts to housing benefit despite a report warning that the UK may have to contend with a surge in homelessness in the coming years, as a result of welfare cuts and the difficult financial climate. Responding to what he called "alarmist" reporting in the Guardian of a report by homelessness charity Crisis - indicating that some middle class householders could be at risk of homelessness in the present economic environment - he defended Government cuts to welfare support. He said: "Homelessness remains at historically low levels. But it is perfectly true to say that there are pressures on the system… as people cope with the effects of unemployment and cutbacks at work. That is why it is so important that we are getting on with creating the conditions for growth and with cutting the huge public deficit. "To do this, we must rein in the spending … which includes a housing benefit bill that has jumped by 50 per cent in the past five years. But I don't believe anyone need go without a home as a result of these reforms, and we are providing councils with an extra £190million to allow them to smooth the transition to the new benefit levels for those most affected; protecting those in the most vulnerable situations and preventing increased homelessness." Mr Shapps said he was "shocked and saddened "at the sight of rough sleepers and that tackling the issue was what first got him into politics. Read more on 24dash.
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