Alex Neil warns of impact of benefit changes on women’s refuges

By The Press Association8th February 2016News ScotlandDomestic Abuse / Violence, Homelessness, News Scotland, Social Housing, Vulnerable Adults

Changes to housing benefit could have a “catastrophic impact” on domestic abuse victims living in women’s refuges, Alex Neil has warned.

The Social Justice Secretary said refuges had been “left in an unacceptable state of uncertainty” as a result of proposals which would reduce the amount of housing benefit cash they receive.

Scottish Women’s Aid has already claimed plans to cap social housing rents could result in an annual loss of thousands of pounds for each of these centres.

Proposals to extend the local housing allowance (LHA) to social landlords ”will have a devastating impact on the future provision of refuge accommodation in Scotland, where all refuge accommodation is in the ownership of either housing associations or local authorities”, the charity said.

Mr Neil has now raised the issue with Welfare Minister Lord Freud, calling for “urgent clarification” of the changes, which are due to come into force in April 2018.

He fears supported accommodation for homeless people and the disabled could also be hit by the change.

The Social Justice Secretary said: “This proposal is essentially a cap to the amount of housing benefit housing social and council tenants will receive, and, what’s still not clear is how far this cap will go when it comes to the most vulnerable living in refuge accommodation.

“This includes women and children fleeing domestic violence, disabled people and those affected by homelessness. We know rent and service charges in supported accommodation is significantly higher than the LHA rate. Without the existing levels of housing benefit to cover these costs, refuges will be forced to close.

“This move will have a catastrophic impact on those people who depend on such support for survival. The UK Government has said it will act, but we have yet to see any evidence or detail of these actions. A suggestion is that the shortfall will be made up of discretionary housing payments – it would be down to individuals to apply for these, and would not offer any security for supported housing projects.

“Until this detail is provided, the organisations that provide supported accommodation are being left in an unacceptable state of uncertainty.”

Scottish Women’s Aid chief executive, Dr Marsha Scott, said: “Without the existing level of housing benefit to cover costs, refuges will be forced to close.”

She added this would ” have a devastating impact on the future provision of refuge accommodation in Scotland, and create additional barriers, not to mention risk, for women and children experiencing domestic abuse”.

A Department for Work and Pensions has previously said it values the work of the suppor ted housing sector “extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible in advance of the policy taking effect”.

It stated: “The truth is that nothing will change until 2018 and we will provide local authorities with £870 million over this Parliament, precisely so that they can support people in their communities who need time to adapt to reforms.”

The UK Government announced last month that there will be a one-year deferral for all supported accommodation from the 1% rent reductions.

A DWP spokesman said: “The truth is that nothing will change until 2018. We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible.

“We are also providing local authorities with £870 million over this Parliament precisely so that they can support people in their communities who need time to adapt to reforms.”