Letters

With almost half of the £136m assigned for emergency support of the most vulnerable remaining unspent by councils, it is clear that the system simply isn't working (cypnow.co.uk, 23 April).

It is clear the vast majority of councils do want to support their most vulnerable residents, but without guarantees of future central government funding they are having to hold back funds now to cover future demand. The problem is that vulnerable people, such as those homeless young people supported by Centrepoint, need the money now to cover the basics such as having a bed to sleep in.

We have seen examples of young people moving on from our hostels to unfurnished flats or shared accommodation and making applications to the local welfare assistance scheme, only to be turned down because they are undertaking an apprenticeship, and their criteria say that they have to be unemployed. It surely cannot be any council's intention to bar applications from anyone on a low income because they are trying to improve their skills and find work.