Churches urge government to rethink housing benefit cuts

Ahead of the launch of a short guide to enable clergy and other church pastoral workers to offer practical help to people who find their benefit payments no longer cover their rent, Rt Revd James Langstaff, Chair of Housing Justice, urged the government to think again on its plans for benefit caps.

Bishop James said: "The reports and estimates of impact emerging from government sources only confirm what churches and projects working with Housing Justice are hearing on the ground: families are living in fear because they know they will not be able to make ends meet when their Housing Benefit is cut, let alone when the benefit cap is introduced. Landlords are already refusing to take new tenants under the age of 35 because of the impending changes to the Shared Room Rate. This cannot be about fairness to tax payers because many of these people are themselves tax payers. The situation is made worse by the misguided localism of removing ringfences from funds sent to local authorities to provide services for poor and homeless people and the apparent reluctance expressed by some housing providers to proceed with new 'affordable' schemes because they are uncertain that, with the Housing Benefit caps, they will find tenants able to pay at the new 80% of market rent level.

"There is still time for the government to respond to this outcry and draw back from a step which will surely increase family homelessness. This is the outcome for which we, alongside many households across the country, are praying."

The guide - Blueprint for action - is sponsored by the London Churches Group for Social Action and Housing Justice, and will be launched on Monday 11 July.

Rev Ruth Lampard, Associate Vicar of St Mary The Boltons, in the Earl's Court area of London, one of the most affected areas, said: "People turn to churches in times of trouble and as soon as I discovered the scale of the problem I realised that equipping church workers to help would make a huge difference. The Blueprint is full of practical advice about the help Local Authorities can offer, how to lobby landlords to reduce rents and steps like providing food parcels to make up for smaller reductions in benefit payments."

Alison Gelder, Director of Housing Justice said: "Housing benefit caps were first announced in the emergency budget soon after the Coalition Government came to power last year and they began to be introduced in April 2011. No one, including officials at the Department for Work and Pensions, knows exactly what the impact will be, but predictions are dire with Mayor Boris Johnson talking of the potential for huge numbers of poor Londoners being forced to move, the Evening Standard reporting that thousands of school children will be displaced and now this letter from Eric Pickles' aide. Worst of all this will bring about a huge change to the diverse social character of London life, part of what makes it a great city."

Right Rev Christopher Chessun, Anglican Bishop of Southwark , and also Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, said: "The changes in housing benefit will lead to financial difficulties for many families and an increase in the numbers of people living in poverty. The clergy will be active in offering pastoral support and in challenging the inequalities that are created by the changes."

Right Rev Peter Wheatley, Bishop of Edmonton said: "I am confident that churches of all denominations and in all locations will rise to this challenge and stand alongside people whose homes are threatened by the benefit caps."

London Churches Group for Social Action is an ecumenical Christian body established in 1983 to work on behalf of the Church leadership in London on civic and social policy issues. Membership comprises senior social responsibility and justice and peace officers from the Baptist Union, Black-majority, Church of England, Evangelical Alliance, Methodist, Catholic, Orthodox, Salvation Army and United Reformed Churches and related organisations.

Housing Justice is a national voice for churches on housing and homelessness issues. Housing Justice also provides practical support to help churches help homeless people. For more information go to: www.housingjustice.org.uk