Two charities working with children and young people in Wales have joined the call against the UK government’s cuts to housing benefit and local housing allowance.
Last month, nine major Welsh charities and membership organisations concerned with housing, homelessness, support and advice services, and mental and physical health issues joined together to oppose the cuts, arguing that they would disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable people in society and contribute to homelessness, housing need and poverty.
More than 550 people have signed the group’s petition calling on the UK government to reconsider the changes, and now Barnardos Cymru and Llamau have added their voices, saying that they are deeply concerned about the impact the cuts will have on vulnerable children and young people.
Frances Beecher, Chief Executive of Llamau, said, “These significant cuts in housing benefit and local housing allowance are unquestionably going to have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable. Make no mistake, we are going to see poverty of Dickensian proportions unless the government reconsiders its plans. Surely we all have a duty to help not harm the vulnerable young people most in need of our support? I am calling on the Welsh Assembly to do all it can to mitigate the effects of these cuts”
Yvonne Rodgers, Director Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “During times of economic hardship, the demand on support for vulnerable children will inevitably increase. It is vital that the Government continues to offer support for the poorest and most vulnerable children and their families in Wales so that we can make child poverty a thing of the past.”
John Puzey, director of Shelter Cymru welcomed the support from the two charities, adding: “The very real concern felt by charities and organisations who represent so many of the most vulnerable people in our society should be a clear signal to the government in Westminster that they need to think again about these cuts.”
The charities and organisations involved in opposing the changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance are:
- Shelter Cymru
- Gofal
- Mind Cymru
- Citizens Advice Cymru
- Community Housing Cymru
- The Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru
- Cymorth Cymru
- Welsh Tenants Federation
- The National Landlords Association in Wales
- Llamau
- Barnardos Cymru
The petition is online at http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39584.html
