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In 94% of areas in Britain, one in five or less private rented homes are affordable to single people, couples, or small families who need housing benefit. Enter your postcode below to find out how affordable your area is:
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When some people are struggling, it has an impact on our whole society. And right now, people who need support are being forced into homelessness.
Nicole struggles with her physical and mental health. Like many others, Nicole receives housing benefit to help her pay her rent as there is a severe shortage of more affordable social housing – but this crucial support falls short of her rent by nearly £300 a month. She worries that her life will fall apart if she loses her flat.
Like Nicole, thousands of others who need this support are locked in a struggle to meet the shortfall in their rent without sacrificing other basic necessities like food or heating. For many, the constant pressure is too much and people lose their home.
Until there are enough truly affordable homes to meet demand, housing benefit must cover the cost of rent.
If the UK Government invested in housing benefit so that it covered just the cheapest third of private rents, it could prevent thousands of people like Nicole from becoming homeless. It would also lift thousands more, including over 35,000 children, out of poverty.
In March, the UK Chancellor announced that housing benefit will be uprated to cover at least the cheapest third of rents for 12 months in order to prevent homelessness in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Crisis will continue to push for this to not be rolled back after one year, and that housing benefit will cover the cost of rent to help people keep their homes.