Shelter responds to the Chancellor’s Budget.

Sarah Elliott, Chief Executive of Shelter, said: “This Budget is cold comfort to families on the brink of losing their home, or the record 172,400 children who will wake up homeless in temporary accommodation this Christmas.

“The Chancellor raised the scandal of children in damaging temporary accommodation, but the failure to unfreeze local housing allowance rates will condemn thousands to another grim winter without a secure home. Even more people will find it impossible to either avoid or escape homelessness in the months ahead unless the government throws them a lifeline.

“Housing benefit is meant to help struggling families afford a roof over their heads, but it’s too far out of sync with the real cost of renting. For the government’s upcoming homelessness strategy to help children out of temporary accommodation, it must do the right thing and unfreeze local housing allowance.”

ENDS