YMCA England chief executive Denise Hatton was responding to comments made by Chancellor George Osborne earlier this week that one of the government’s 2014 priorities for making further public sector spending savings would be to cut the amount of housing benefit paid to under-25s.
But Hatton said: “The reality of the matter is that education and employment options are limited and more young people, through no fault of their own, are finding themselves in need of support. Simply removing their access to benefits will not resolve this problem.
“There are many reasons why young people feel unable to continue living at home – from family breakdown, death or illness of a parent or a concern for their safety. Many under-25s may also have children of their own to support.
“While we, and those we work with, would welcome initiatives to get more young people into education, employment or training, this does not take away the need for the safety net housing benefit is supposed to provide."
Hatton, who took over at YMCA England last summer after joining the organisation in 1984 as an administrator, said YMCA wants to develop innovative solutions to the housing problems faced by young people by working with local authorities to turn empty buildings into affordable homes.
Speaking exclusively to CYP Now she added: “We are looking at how we can develop new build – not just blocks of flats, but modular designs based on German models – for housing that will be really attractive for young people.”
YMCA provides nearly 10,000 beds every night for young people aged 18 to 30 across the UK.
Read the full interview with Denise Hatton online, or in the latest issue of CYP Now.
