-£2.1 billion net benefits would also be delivered over the next three years according to new report from Crisis-

Restoring the levels of housing benefit, otherwise known as Local Housing Allowance (LHA), so they truly cover market rents has the potential to prevent more than 6,000 households from being pushed into homelessness and also lift more than 35,000 children out of poverty in the next three years in the UK.

As part of Crisis’ Cover the Cost campaign, new research released today, conducted by Alma Economics, outlines the three-year cost and benefit analysis of a Government investment of £3.3 billion in LHA for immediate net benefits of £2.1 billion (1). More specifically, the charity is calling for £820 million in the next year as part of upcoming spending decisions.

Lifting the benefits freeze and investing in LHA would help thousands currently on the brink of homelessness as they could truly cover the cost of the cheapest 30% of market rents. Restored levels of LHA would also help those already homeless to afford a rented home and significantly reduce the number of families and individuals turning to their local council for help – reducing the use of homelessness services and extremely expensive temporary accommodation.

Alongside the immediate net benefits of £2.1 billion over the three years, this would also give the Government time to build a sufficient supply of truly affordable housing in the years to come whilst ensuring that homelessness across the country doesn’t continue to rise.

LHA is the housing benefit aspect of Universal Credit, providing support to those on low incomes who are unable to meet the cost of private rent. LHA rates were originally set to ensure the recipient could afford the cheapest third of properties in their area, meaning most were able to access a safe and stable home to build their lives in.

But following series of cuts to LHA over the years – including a four-year freeze from 2016 – the rates are not keeping up with the cost of rents in most areas across the country, meaning safe, affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult to find. With families and individuals often accumulating debt having to make up the shortfall between their LHA and rent, this mounting financial pressure means they are easily forced out of their home and into homelessness.

At its core, LHA provides the opportunity to prevent more people becoming homeless by providing the right support. This potential will only be fully reached though if it is sufficiently funded and helps provide the right level of financial security to those in vulnerable circumstances. This is why Crisis is now calling on the Government to commit to restoring the LHA rates so that they cover the true cost of rent.

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“Everyone in our society should have the means to rent a safe, stable home where they can build their lives. But every day at Crisis, we hear of the agonising stress and anxiety people face, unable to afford their rent and keep the roof over their head. Right now people are losing their homes and being left trapped in homelessness, unable to get back into adequate housing. We have to stop this happening.

“The UK Government has made commitments to end rough sleeping and reduce homelessness, but without addressing the root causes behind homelessness, it will sadly continue to rise. Long-term solutions like building more affordable social homes will take time so in the meantime, investing in LHA, so it covers the true cost of rents, provides the quickest and most effective opportunity to help those already homeless back into housing and for thousands more, prevent it from happening in the first place.

“Over the coming weeks, we urge the Government to prioritise investment in Local Housing Allowance as part of its upcoming spending decisions – this research makes a clear-cut case that doing so will have an immediate financial and human impact. Ending homelessness for good is truly within our capabilities but will only be made possible by taking steps like this.”

Terrie Alafat CBE, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said:

"The Chartered Institute of Housing is pleased to join Crisis and so many other organisations in calling on the government to restore local housing allowance to cover the most affordable 30 per cent of rents.

"It is a national shame that thousands of families face being made homeless and councils are spending £1 billion a year on temporary accommodation because LHA is failing to do its job. Addressing this issue will bring the government significant savings in the benefit bill, as well as giving some of our most vulnerable fellow-citizens a more secure environment in which to live.

"A staggering 97 per cent of private rents in England are currently simply unaffordable under benefit rules. This leaves thousands of families having to choose between paying their rent and feeding their children. The social and economic cost of this broken system simply cannot be justified."

- ENDS –

*Further supportive quotes in the Notes to Editors*

For further comment or to arrange a spokesperson interview email media@crisis.org.uk or call 0207 426 3880.

Find out more about Crisis’ Cover the Cost campaign here. Full report also available here.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The following leading organisations in housing and homelessness support Crisis’ Cover the Cost campaign, calling on the Government to restore LHA rates to cover the cheapest third of rents: St Mungo’s, Homeless link, Centrepoint, Shelter, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Chartered Institute of Housing, Local Government Association, Residential Landlords Association, London Councils and District Councils’ Network

(1) The methodology

Crisis commissioned Alma Economics to model the total costs and benefits relating to homelessness from 2019/20 to 2024/25 of different scenarios to restore Local Housing Allowance rates. The full report from Alma Economics is also available here.

• the costs and benefits of the scenarios are calculated in comparison to a ‘do nothing’ situation, where the freeze continues
• net benefits refer to financial savings and welfare gains (whether there are any health and social effects) minus costs to Government
• the approach is consistent with the HM Treasury Green Book principles, which includes considering who will benefit most from the policy, and whether there are any health and social effects (i.e. ‘welfare gains’).

(2) Additional quotes

Cllr Tom Beattie, District Councils’ Network Vice Chair and lead member for Better Lives, said;

‘Districts are vital to preventing homelessness and providing resolution when our residents are faced with no alternative. Councils have faced an increasing tide of need where Local Housing Allowance has failed to cover the increasing cost of rents, when resources have continued to be under pressure.

‘We echo the asks of Crisis and jointly call on government to end the freeze on Local Housing Allowance and lift the current rates which are seeing too many people struggling to meet the shortfall at the detriment of their health, wellbeing and independence.

‘We believe this immediate resolution will provide a significant, positive impact but councils must be given the financial freedom to deliver affordable housing, which will enable a more collaborative, long term solution to a continually increasing and devastating problem.’