Our call to government to tackle the cost of living crisis
We're calling for government to take action to tackle the cost of living crisis
We’re seeing first-hand the impact the cost of living crisis is having on our residents; our tenancy support service has seen a 20% increase since this time last year and more residents are struggling to pay their rent. The sad reality is that social housing residents are disproportionately amongst those who will be unable to manage this winter.
Housing associations are facing tough choices between offering immediate financial support to residents and future investment towards improving homes, building new ones, and reducing our carbon emissions.
In response to the cost of living crisis, we’re offering our residents more choice on their service charges. Our ‘Your service, your say’ consultation will help to reduce outgoings by letting residents decide whether they keep or remove some optional services (non-compliance or regulatory based) and their charges. If residents remove all their optional services, they could save up to £1000 a year.
We care about our community, and we understand the devastating impact this winter could have on people who live here. It’s no longer a decision between heating or eating; for some people it’s neither.
We’re not alone in these challenges. As a member of Placeshapers, a national network of place-based housing organisations, we’re supporting the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Cost of Living Campaign, which is calling for our new Prime Minister to:
- Lower the cap on total deductions from the Standard Allowance of Universal Credit from 25% to 15%
- Cap the deductions to repay debt to central government at 5% of the Standard Allowance, because deductions to repay central Government (DWP/HMRC) debts should not be taken at higher rates than it expects for other creditors
- Scrap the benefit cap, removing arbitrary limits on benefits amounts, and ensuring what families receive is based on a fair assessment of need
- Stand ready to introduce an additional payment to cover energy costs and support households through the winter if needed