‘Double Hit’ For Vulnerable People

Crisis is calling on campaigners to challenge two legal changes that will lead to more homelessness: cuts to housing benefit for 25 to 35 year-olds and a move to criminalise squatting in residential properties. Last week it was announced that the Government would push ahead with plans to criminalise squatting in residential properties, despite warnings from Crisis that 40% of single homeless people had resorted to squatting at some point. There are over 700,000 empty residential properties in England alone. Crisis is calling on supporters to write to their MP to challenge the change. The Government is also planning to move tens of thousands of 25-35 year olds down to a lower level of housing benefit, meaning they will only receive enough money to cover the cost of a room in shared housing, instead of a one bed flat. Crisis has warned that not enough shared housing is available and that many are too vulnerable to share a house with strangers. Again, the charity is calling on supporters to write their MP to challenge the cut. Read more on the Crisis website.