A MID-ULSTER organisation that provides accommodation, care and support for single homeless people has warned that the Government's plans to cut housing benefits for young people in the 24 to 35 age group will almost certainly lead to increased levels of homelessness.
Lyndsey Rafferty, deputy manager at the Mid-Ulster & South Tyrone Association for the Single Homeless based in Cookstown has hit out at the planned cuts saying that the Government changes will result in many young people struggling to find the extra cash to stay in their current accommodation.
It is believed that the reduction in benefit could be as high as £40 a week in some cases.
"Up until this month a considerable number of single people between the age of 25 and 35 would have been eligible and entitled to the full single room rate," explained Lyndsey. "That will no longer be the case as the shared room rate which is much lower, in some cases nearly half of what they were previously gettin, will be applied.":
And according to Ms Rafferty, that has left the Association gearing up for what it believes will be an "unprecedented number of referrals as a result of this Government action".
"We have already received a number of enquiries from concerned young people about the matter because as an organisation we also provide advice and support," she said. "We believe that this situation will also lead to an increase in the number of people having to consider moving into shared accommodation.
"And that in itself presents a number of other related problems from the lack of appropriate shared housing in the marketplace to the fact that not everyone is in a position to or wants to share their home with others."
Ms Rafferty also pointed out that single people in the 18 to 35 year age group are at a disadvantage when it comes to availing of social housing.
"Social housing works on a points system and young single people tend to be at the bottom of such listings," continued Ms Rafferty.
"That means instead that they will have to look at the private rented sector which tends to be far more expensive."
According to Ms Rafferty the whole situation is being compounded by the current economic downturn.
"Many of these young people have up until recently lived very successfully on their own, having held down a job but as a result of redundancies and job losses have found themselves having to claim housing benefit," she said. "Even with the full housing benefit it has been difficult for them to make ends meet and with the impending cuts that is going to be even more of a challenge."
Ms Rafferty pointed out that anyone facing housing benefit cuts can apply for a discretionary payment.
"However, that's far from ideal as it's not permanent and of course it may be refused," she added.
Where successful it is believed that such discretionary payments could provide an extra £20 a week in terms of benefit allowance.
"Our fear is that these cut-backs will heap further misery on people who are already feeling vulnerable and that it will open the door for exploitation and abuse," continued Ms Rafferty.
Through the Association's SAIL project Resettlement Officer Ethna Shields helps single people to negotiate with landlords and assists with general housing problems including referrals to the Housing Executive.
"Ethna's workload is extremely high at the moment but we expect that to increase quite dramatically in the coming weeks," said Lyndsey.
"As an organisation we work closely with other homeless agencies but undoubtedly these are very worrying times."
The Association was founded back in 1984 as a direct result of several deaths amongst homeless people through exposure.
With support from several voluntary organisations the Association has grown and now provides accommodation for 20 single homeless people both male and female at its facilities at Molesworth Street, Cookstown.
"The whole issue of homelessness has become an increasing problem in the Mid Ulster region," said Lyndsey.
The Tyrone Courier highlighted the problem in mid-December with its front page story which showed that there are more than 700 household recorded as homeless in the Mid-Ulster area - the highest figure in three years.
"It is my opinion that this whole decision with regard to housing benefit cuts has been made with no real foresight," she added. "We know that Government will argue that cuts have to be made but if you are going to make cuts then you also have to make provision and while discretionary payment may be there for some it is not going to be enough!"
According to the Housing Rights Service the Housing Executive has written to people outlining how their individual claims will be affected.
Some existing claimants will get up to nine months' protection from this new rule and there are some other exceptions, including single mothers or anybody under 22 that has been through the care system.
Nicola McCrudden, Housing Rights Service Policy Manager said: "The full effect of the welfare reform changes to housing benefit has not yet been felt by the majority of claimants. This is because they are being phased in.
From the New Year the changes will start to apply and many people will find themselves in a difficult situation."
Ms McCrudden added: "Our fear is that unless people can find shared accommodation many could face homelessness."
Source: Tryone Courier
Date: Wednesday 25 January 2012
