- Conference
- 2018 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 27 September 2017
- Decision
- Carried
The number of homeless women and children has risen since 2010 by more than 60% and is likely to continue as it’s been driven by government welfare reforms.
The lack of social housing and the cost of private sector rents which has gone up by three times as much as the wages and added to that is the new restrictions on family benefits and family credit it is becoming more difficult for women to pay their bills, their mortgage and rent and it only takes a delay in benefit payments or loss of a shift at work to push a woman into a situation in which they cannot afford the basic essentials – food, shelter, warmth.
The new Universal Credit is having a major impact and had been estimated to hitting over 42,000 single parents, the majority of which are women. For many this will be the first time they may have to endure homelessness and the fear of their children being taken away from them and taken into care will have potentially long term effects on their mental health, it is also impacting negatively on the underfunded stretched services of social care. Within the Northern region we are classed as one of the most deprived areas with many women facing extreme poverty and the threat to losing their home is a daily battle.
This is an attack on working women, many who are either low paid workers or working part time and don’t have the spare cash to fall back on as every penny is accounted for. It is estimated that from now till 2020, 80,000 families will be homeless with a large portion being single parents, as the spending on houses has fallen by 21%. While homelessness has increased the Department for Communities and Local Government failed to monitor councils work to tackle the issue.
And while the new legislation puts more responsibility on the councils to prevent homelessness they have fewer options to help due to the fall in social housing, homelessness cost the taxpayers over £1 billion last year with £845 million going into temporary housing.
• Conference we ask National Women’s Committee to work with Labour Link to highlight the importance of keeping the family unit together and work with Labour Link to highlight the importance of the mental wellbeing of all affected.
• We also ask National Women’s Committee to work with Labour Link to look at the cost of private accommodation, the cost of children placed in social care and the impact his will have on the women and children.
• We ask National Women’s Committee to work with Local Government Service Group to highlight the issues around the lack of social housing, cost of private housing and the impact Universal Credits have on the families affected.