Cuts to Cause Huge Rise in Homelessness

Over 3,400 of us in Devon could become homeless because of expected 10% cuts to housing benefits.

The National Housing Federation says those who have been on jobseekers allowance for over a year will be affected.

South West Regional Manager Catherine Brabner says single childless claimants will be hardest hit: "you will see a cut in your living standards. You'll have to top up your rent payments with money other than your housing benefits. That job seekers allowance money isn't going to go very far and you could see your disposible income shrinking by 50%"

She continued: "it's going to further increase unemployment in the area and add to the concentration of social problems. People who are facing unemployment are all going to be pushed to the edges and just further marginalised."