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Morning Briefing: ‘bed poverty’ impacting thousands, charity warns
Thousands of children are having to share beds with siblings or sleep on floors as the government fails to reduce “bed poverty”, a charity has said.
In the news
Children’s charity Buttle UK – which helped more than 3,000 vulnerable families to buy beds last year – warned that not having a bed can lead to problems concentrating in school, the BBC reports today.
It has written to politicians in 10 poverty-stricken areas asking them to act.
In other news, Labour has said it will include a pilot of universal basic income in its next general election manifesto, according to The Independent.
John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, revealed the new policy in an interview with the paper.
Universal basic income involves replacing existing means tested benefits with a flat rate payment to all citizens. It has already been trialled in Finland and Canada.
In Scotland, Glasgow City Council has established a task force to try to help the 300 failed asylum seekers facing eviction by public services firm Serco, the BBC reports.
There are concerns that the people affected could be left destitute after it emerged yesterday that some could be locked out of their homes.
Meanwhile, the Daily Record runs a story about a man who faced a similar plight in 2015 – but took a stand against eviction which could set a legal precedent to help those now at risk of being forced out.
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In related news, the BBC reports that a human rights group called the Participation and Practice of Rights Project has warned that some Syrian refugees in Belfast are facing appalling living conditions.
The homes in question are also provided by a private company, contracted by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Also in Scotland, the Citizens Advice Bureau claims that Sanctuary Scotland is “constantly prompting” tenants in Aberdeenshire on housing benefits after changing its policy in February to pay a month’s worth of rent in advance, per The Press and Journal.
The 6,500-home landlord is also threatening benefit claimants with evictions, the bureau said.
Elsewhere, giant housing association Places for People has been chosen as Surrey County Council’s partner for a £1.5bn joint venture to build 5,000 homes, Building reports. Inside Housing had this line back in December, although the contract was published yesterday.
And in Wales, Barry and District News reports that Vale of Glamorgan Council is considering providing loans or grants to private landlords to help them make improvements to their properties.
Finally, some important fire safety news in case you missed it late yesterday afternoon: the government has revealed that fire doors from five suppliers have now been found to fail safety standards.
On social media
The goverment responds to the news that Taylor Wimpey has put money aside to remove unsafe cladding from tower blocks:
Good news that @TaylorWimpey and @Macegroup have joined others in doing the right thing by covering the cost of removing and replacing unsafe cladding. We urge other developers and building owners to follow their example to protect leaseholders from additional costs
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg)Good news that @TaylorWimpey and @Macegroup have joined others in doing the right thing by covering the cost of removing and replacing unsafe cladding. We urge other developers and building owners to follow their example to protect leaseholders from additional costs
— Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt (@mhclg) July 31, 2018
What’s on
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry will continue today with more firefighter evidence
