A Cabinet minister has urged middle-class savers and borrowers to cast aside their prejudices and join credit unions.
These non-profit organisations have long been regarded as the preserve of low-paid families who would otherwise struggle to obtain a mortgage or bank account.
Homelessness is sadly becoming a reality for increasing numbers of young people, and plans floated yet again by the prime minister and chancellor this week to abolish housing benefit for under-25s will only make things worse.
There is nothing unusual about someone in their early 20s living with mum and dad in 21st-century Britain. Indeed, in laying out his plans to abolish housing benefit for under-25s, chancellor George Osborne said: "There are plenty of people listening to this programme who can't afford to move out of their home, but there are people on benefits who can get housing benefit under the age of 25."
A North East property boss has described himself as “shocked” by one of Britain’s best known landlord’s decision to evict 200 tenants simply for being on benefits – calling the decision “short-sighted and self-defeating.”
Fergus Wilson – who owns nearly 1000 properties in Kent with his wife Judith –hit the headlines this week for issuing eviction notices to every tenant who receives welfare, and has announced that he will no longer accept applicants on housing benefit.
A right-wing Tory politician has said that the controversial bedroom tax should be extended to include pensioners within its net.
Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury, has claimed he is unhappy that pensioners are exempt from the widely ridiculed under-occupancy policy, and that such a move would "free up accommodation for young families".
Londoner Leo Alexander insisted that for some under-25s, housing benefit is "a necessity".
He left home at 18 due to family breakdown and said the money he receives goes straight towards subsidising the cost of the hostel he lives in.
A MUM has been ordered to pay bedroom tax – even though the tiny room is a vital haven for her severely disabled daughter.
Dawn Lennon’s girl Kelly Marie, 28 – who is blind and unable to walk or talk – relies on the sensory room, which contains a soft ball pit and is used to store her wheelchairs.
Homelessness charity Crisis has warned that high rents are one of the factors which put young people at risk of homelessness.
Crisis identifies other issues to be low benefits and a lack of decent housing.
Residents are being encouraged to seek help from their local credit union rather than go to payday loan companies when times get tough.
Credit unions are financial co-operatives, owned and managed by the members who use them.
More young people are at risk of homelessness due to high rents, low benefits and a lack of decent housing, homelessness charity Crisis has warned.
As the charity opens its 'Crisis at Christmas' centres today, it is launching 'Shut Out', a new campaign calling for more to be done to stop young people becoming homeless.
A third of disabled applicants have been refused support from a government fund designed to give them temporary financial help to cope with cuts to their benefit income as a result of the bedroom tax, a survey claims.
Ministers have persistently rejected arguments that the bedroom tax discriminates against disabled people by arguing that the availability of discretionary housing payment (DHP) grants to vulnerable households fulfils their duties under equality laws.