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Labour urges government to scrap LHA plans for supported housing
Labour will urge the government to drop its plans to introduce a Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap for supported housing in a parliamentary debate today.
The opposition day debate – the second Labour has secured in recent weeks following a debate on pausing the roll-out of Universal Credit – will seek to pass a motion calling on the government to halt plans to cap housing benefit at LHA rates for supported housing and instead adopt a new supported housing allowance.
The government does not have to make changes to the policy following the debate because any vote that is taken will be non-binding. However, Labour hopes Conservative MPs will vote against the government on the issue.
The call for a supported housing allowance echoes the recommendation of cross-party MPs from the Work and Pensions Committee and the Communities and Local Government Committee.
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The government’s plans to cap housing benefit at LHA rates for supported housing have been widely criticised by the sector, and many providers have scrapped schemes because of the uncertainty over future funding.
A green paper on the future funding of supported housing was meant to be published in the spring, but has still not materialised.
John Healey, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for housing, said: “Crude Conservative cuts to support with housing costs for vulnerable people risks closing homelessness hostels, women’s refuges and sheltered housing for the elderly across the country. Even the prospect of these plans has resulted in an 85% reduction in the new development of supported homes.
“Today Labour is giving MPs of all parties the chance to challenge ministers to change course. Ministers should halt their current plans and back a new approach to safeguard the long-term future and funding of supported housing.”
A government spokesperson said: “We will set out the next steps on our new funding model shortly, to secure the future of supported accommodation and ensure help goes to those that need it the most.”
