To What Extent has the Bedroom Tax Affected People
Britain is currently undergoing the biggest overhaul of the welfare system since its introduction. The welfare system was first established with the assurance that people less fortunate would be able to have a standard of living that would ensure equality. But the recent amendments brought into place by the current government’s legislations may see the biggest divide between rich and poor since the days of the work houses. How will claimants be affected and who will be affected the most is an issue that will be examined more closely. The current government believes that Britain has become a welfare dependant state and according to BBC news (2013) 2.49 million are currently unemployed; those who are unemployed will also have entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit. All claimants will be affected by what will be known as Universal Credits. Universal credits will combine all existing benefits in to one payment; the amount a household can claim in welfare will be capped, this new system could have a catastrophic impact on people’s lives. Furthermore the government does not believe
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Sue and Paul Rutherford care for their 13 year old son Warren; he was born with a chromosomal disorder called Potocki-Shaffer syndrome. This disorder affects development of his bones, brain and other organs, but he also has Autism and Epilepsy. Since the introduction of the Bedroom Tax the Rutherfords are having such financial hardship that they may see their son put in to care. Paul Rutherford who is himself disabled states that "We would never willingly give up caring for Warren - but we have to be able to feed and clothe him and look after his needs." The Mirrors article sets about showing how unjust the Bedroom Tax is in situations like the Rutherfords; unfortunately there is a thousand others stories just like theirs throughout the
One of the most prominent concerns of Evicted is the issue of inescapable financial instability as it relates to eviction. In the very first few pages of the book, Desmond reveals that the majority of poor renting families in America spend over 50% of their income on housing, with an even more astonishing one in four spending over 70% of their income on it (4). When families are spending the majority of their already meager income on housing alone, it is no surprise that they have little money left for savings or self-betterment programs such as a college education. Compounded with this is the fact that some welfare systems are constructed in a way that discourages long-term financial responsibility. For example, Supplemental Security Income, a program that provides monthly stipends for low-income elderly or disabled individuals, is revoked if individuals have too much money in their bank account (217). For
Some people feel that the majority of individuals receiving welfare benefits are simply lazy and do not intend to work to earn money for themselves and their families. While it is true that there are deceptive people amongst us within our society, it would be unfair to punish the honest along with them by enforcing a work requirement. Although it...
Instead of focusing on the relationship between federal housing policy and segregation, as does Mohl, DiPasquale explores how rental housing and federal policies affect each other. In her article, “Rental Housing: Current Market Conditions and the Role of Federal Policy,” DiPasquale challenges the federal policies that were in place at the time she wrote her article. She brings to attention her belief that in the past, government policies have given much of their focus to homeowners and little to the renter. Through her research, DiPasquale had found that rental housing had become increasingly less affordable, especially to poorer tenants, who are spending a greater portion of their income on rent. This not only poses a problem to the renters, but also to the landlords, for if the renters cannot pay the rent, the landlords get a vacancy and no income from their property. She also asserts her belief that homeownership is not for everyone, and uses evidence from the recent housing crisis to support her claim. Her article calls for a revamping of current federal policies to level the playing field between home owning and renting. By doing so, households will have more choices available to them when it comes to choosing suitable housing for them
Johns, G. (2012). Paved with good intentions: The road home and the irreducible minimum of homelessness in Australia. Agenda : A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, 19(1), 41-59. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/1032658396?accountid=14543
Fraser, D. (2003) 3rd Ed. The Evolution of the British Welfare State. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Stitt, S. (1994) Poverty and Poor Relief: Concepts and Reality.
Welfare can be defined as health, happiness, and good fortune; well-being; Prosperity; and Financial or other aid provided, especially by the government, to people in need (Merriam-Webster, 2014). It can be very beneficial to people in need of it. Tim Prenzler stated that, “Welfare systems are often seen as providing a ‘safety net’ that prevents citizens falling below a minimum standard of living (2012, p2). Everyone is able to use is if they are in need of it. People have successfully used welfare to get out of their slum, and started to support themselves. Others have decided to not try to get out of that slum, and live off that welfare. They decided that they didn’t have to try, and let the government support them. Welfare is a good tool for people to get back on their feet, but shouldn’t be that persons steady income.
As a result of anti-poverty legislation being placed into effect all over the country to force workers back into the capitalist labour market, which has taken hold in neoliberalism, the number of families finding themselves on the brink of homeless is skyrocketing. Furthermore, with the reduction of social assistance programs these families are barely able to provide for themselves, therefore, numerous children are being physically impacted by homelessness. According to Jenny Hsu (2015) hunger and physical illness are effects children and youth may experience due to homelessness that greatly affect their development which is unacceptable for our government to allow this many young people to be negatively impacted. Thus, the links between these
Sidney, Mara S. 2003. Unfair Housing: How National Policy Shapes Community Action. Lawrence: Univ. Press of Kansas.
Low income can lead to high levels of stress and pressure, which can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Overcrowding can be negative for a person because it causes frustration and family breakups, and means that their personal space is invaded, and their right to privacy is ignored – this can lead to tension in the family, and issues such as domestic abuse. Inadequate housing can affect an individual’s health, as it can cause respiratory problems due to poor living conditions such as damp or mold. The lack of green spaces can mean that health and sociability are not encouraged, and mental and physical health
This advertisement claims that most people on welfare truly do not wish to be living this way. The advertisement claims that the new welfare reform laws have helped to get many people off of welfare and into jobs. With the help of companies who will employ these job-seekers, the advertisement states that million of others can do the same. People who receive welfare according to this advertisement, are not looking for a handout, but are actively seeking jobs, so they can become more self-sufficient.
The issue of poverty has not sprung upon the citizens of the United States living in the 21st century; rather it has been present and dealt with both here and globally in different degrees of success. This success is reviewed through our country’s welfare history in the solutions to welfare during war, provisions by the people and lastly government provided benefits. When taxes increased to fund the Civil War and a national income tax was issued in 1913 by the U.S. tax code, home mortgage deductions came into play (Welfare Politics 20). These deductions as will be seen have secured its place in the welfare solutions only when in the right hands. As some may believe, the solution to the issue of the problems that arises from the less fortunate is different d...
The government has the power to help reduce the risk of becoming homeless due to economic reasons. Nan Roman, president of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, points out that, in order to end homelessness, the government could make housing more affordable to lower income families “or figure out some way to supplement people 's income through vouchers or tax credits" (qtd. in Housing the Homeless). This would mean that even if a person, or an entire family, lost their main source of income, they would still have the me...
Nevertheless, the previous researches were either focused on the role of affordable housing associating with residential stability or educational improvement for children and employment outcomes for the adults (Manturuk, 2012). Others also emphasized that affordable housing could contribute to community-wide economic development, both for troubled and vibrant communities (Lubell et al., 2007). In addition, even the past researches started to examine the impact difference from various categories ownerships versus; however, the subcate...
Housing is a necessity of life as living conditions can affect an individual’s health in the long run, but after 10 years of economic expansion Canada has yet to resolve this issue: one out of five households in Canada are unable to afford acceptable shelter (Shapcott, 2009). The Ottawa Charter of Health Promotion recognizes shelter as a basic prerequisite (Bryant, 2009). Many people are suffering, as the income gap between owners and tenants has grown wider throughout the years (Shapcott, 2009). There have been studies conducted by Canada and the Housing Mortgage Corporation have shown that the cost of rent is increasing much faster than income, as the existing amount of housing continues to deteriorate and overcrowding in households is increasing; this is also known as hidden homelessness (Bryant, 2009). Homelessness is a temporary experience, not an identity or a permanent trait. It includes a continuum of housing circumstances (Paradis,
Since the mid-1970s, affordable housing has become increasingly difficult to find. This is because Americans are being asked to contribute more and more or their paychecks to their rent and when they become homeless it is difficult to get themselves back into affordable housing. It has been reported that “A full-time worker earning minimum wage cannot afford a one-bedroom unit priced at the Fair Market Rent anywhere in the United States. Nationally a full-time worker must earn $18.32 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.”(National low-income Housing Coalation 2010) Today, our federal minimum wages contributes to our increasing homeless population, while even if you work fulltime making $7.25 isnt even enough to get you off the street. In 1970 there was a...