70 young people in Hornsey & Wood Green to be stripped of housing benefit

70 young people in Hornsey & Wood Green will be affected by the Conservative government’s decision to strip 18-21 year olds of housing benefit, research by the House of Commons library commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has shown. Another 80 people in Tottenham will also be hit by the changes.

In total 18,000 young people across the country expected to be affected. The Liberal Democrats have committed to reverse the cuts, which came into force at the beginning of this month.

Haringey is already suffering from worrying levels of homelessness, with official figures showing there were 29 rough sleepers in 2016. Charities have warned that stripping 18-21 year-olds of housing benefits could push more young people onto the streets while research has shown it is likely to cost taxpayers more than it saves.

Dawn Barnes, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hornsey & Wood Green, commented:

"The heartless decision to strip under-21s of housing benefit risks pushing more young people in Hornsey & Wood Green onto the streets.

“Vulnerable youngsters with nowhere else to turn are being abandoned by this Conservative government. This nasty and counterproductive policy should be overturned immediately.

“Younger generations have the most to lose from the increasingly divisive policies and hard Brexit agenda being pursued by this Conservative government.

“This election is a chance to change the direction of our country. The Liberal Democrats will restore housing benefit for 18-21 year olds and prevent a destructive hard Brexit robbing young people of their futures."

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