Homelessness will not end worklessness

Commenting on proposals by the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, to bar new tenants access to social housing if families without work do not sign work ‘commitment contracts’, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group said:

“Homelessness will not end worklessness. The Minister’s comments are insulting and stigmatising to people facing major barriers to employment.

“Communities with a high concentration of worklessness result from poor planning that concentrates social housing. Years of expert warnings have recommended housing developments should be mixed and it’s time the Minister dusted the cobwebs off these reports instead of chasing headlines.

“The Government must stop trying to manage the lives of the most disadvantaged people at the sharp end of a stick and address their genuine needs. Investment in skills development, disability support and the rollout of comprehensive childcare in disadvantaged communities will meet the government’s employment targets and move towards their important promise to ending child poverty.”

Notes for editors

• CPAG is one of over 100 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk