On Friday the Government laid out the regulations that will restrict 18 to 21 year olds from claiming the housing element of Universal Credit.

Reacting to the announcement, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“The Government has made positive steps towards preventing homelessness in recent months, including pledging its full support for the Homelessness Reduction Bill. But these new benefits rules risk undermining the potential of the bill to tackle homelessness for young people. 

“We’re committed to working with the Government to deliver on its homelessness prevention agenda, but today’s announcement runs entirely counter to those aims and could have disastrous consequences. For many young people, the support they receive through the benefits system to pay their rent is the safety net that stops them from becoming homeless. Even at this eleventh hour, we urge the Government not to continue with this destructive policy.”