In last month's emergency Budget, it was announced that housing benefit will be capped at £400 a week for a four-bedroom home and £340 for a three-bedroom property to shave £1.8bn off the annual benefits bill.
However, Family Action warns this will leave the most vulnerable families, particularly those in London where a parent has a mental health illness, at risk of eviction. It is also feared such housing concerns could exacerbate parents' mental health problems and heighten child protection worries.
Families finding themselves unable to make up the shortfall in rent could find themselves classed as "intentionally homeless" or forced to move across council boundaries. This will make it harder for social workers and other children's professionals to support them, the charity adds.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
