Homelessness and overcrowding is making people's lives in Redditch a real misery

Rebecca says "Homelessness and overcrowding is making people's lives in Redditch a real misery. The 'bedroom tax' assumes that people who have a spare room can simply move to a smaller property, but in Redditch the reality is that we do not have those smaller properties to give.

Pressures on Councils and Housing Associations are at breaking point and the fundamental problem is that we need more affordable housing. When Labour were in government we did not build enough affordable housing and unfortunately the Conservative led government has since cut that budget by 60%. I urge the government to use the £3 billion windfall from the 4G sale to build 100,000 much needed affordable homes.

Taking Housing Benefit from people who can downsize is one thing, taking money away from people who have no viable alternative is quite another.

For people who cannot move, losing £18.31 a week could see families becoming homeless, that doesn't help them or the welfare bill. Under the Council's duty to families seeking Homeless status, figures were up 187% in 11/12 when compared to the year before".

For more info visit Bedroom tax will hit those already struggling to pay rent