Ben Pattison
The announcement of a white paper on welfare reform has been described by Iain Duncan Smith as a ‘once in a generation’ change. Analysis of these proposals needs to be set within the wider context of the welfare system and particularly support with housing costs.
Successive governments have allowed Housing Benefit to ‘take the strain’ of support with housing costs. At the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) we are keen to highlight how other mechanisms, including housing supply and taxation, could be used more effectively to relieve the burden on Housing Benefit and ensure that everyone in the UK has access to decent and affordable housing.
