Starmer's vision quest

[briantrumpet]

The only way to avoid either people being homeless or housing benefit going into the private sector is council housing or housing associations. Rent controls are a laughably naive approach (yes, I'm talking to you Ms. Sturgeon), and reducing housing benefit just increases hardship. Might even cost more in other ways.

The trouble with housing benefit is it's an irreversible policy once you've started it.

 

[BoldonLad]

The only way to avoid either people being homeless or housing benefit going into the private sector is council housing or housing associations. Rent controls are a laughably naive approach (yes, I'm talking to you Ms. Sturgeon), and reducing housing benefit just increases hardship. Might even cost more in other ways.

From personal experience, homelessness is a complex problem, which is not always solved by more money, or, indeed, more houses,

I don't pretend to know the answer, but, I dont quite see how Council Housing and/or Housing Associations change the equation, Housing Benefit provides a "floor" below which no landlord will rent, it thus distorts the market. A similar situation exists with Nursing/care home costs, and, no doubt there are other examples.

 

[BoldonLad]

The trouble with housing benefit is it's an irreversible policy once you've started it.

I don't really see it as "irreversible", but, I do think reversing it would be very difficult, and, would almost certainly promote hardship in the short term.

The immediate approach would be to increase benefits by approximately the amount of Housing benefit, then, let tenants rent as they choose and/or can (if it is not available in your price range, you cannot rent it). But, this would imply a level of money management and financial responsibility which many simply do not have, (that is from my experience).

Such a move, even if it is possible, would take years to achieve, and, IMHO, would require cross-party agreement, in other words, like re-joining the EU, it is not going to happen in my lifetime, if indeed ever.

 

[First Aspect]

From personal experience, homelessness is a complex problem, which is not always solved by more money, or, indeed, more houses,

I don't pretend to know the answer, but, I dont quite see how Council Housing and/or Housing Associations change the equation, Housing Benefit provides a "floor" below which no landlord will rent, it thus distorts the market. A similar situation exists with Nursing/care home costs, and, no doubt there are other examples.

I see housing associations as essentially subcontracted council housing. Homelessness is indeed complex, but can include people who are employed but have had a change of circumstances such that they have nowhere permanent to live or can no longer afford what they need. E.g. a break up or divorce

 

[icowden]

It still exists usually where organisation has London & non London locations

And in the public sector. You get Inner London, Outer London and London Fringe weightings.

 

[matticus]

This seems to be almost entirely a London problem. Can we leave them to sort it out?

 

[First Aspect]

Sutton is as close to central London as I was to central Edinburgh when I lived "near Edinburgh" and cycle commuted. It is also not a terrible place. Only being able to afford somewhere less than 14 miles from work doesn't seem like a hardship worth a 5 day strike.