High rents and inadequate benefits causing hunger and hardship in Hackney

More than half (62%) of private renters receiving housing benefits have gone without food and heating in the past six months because they could not afford them.

That’s the estimate from Trussell who are lobbying the government to close the gap between Local Housing Allowance and rents.

The problem is particularly acute here in Hackney where there’s a shortage of local authority housing and where the average cost of renting a two-bed home on the private market in the borough is £2,475 (a 38% increase in 10 years). Here, the Local Housing Allowance covers just £412.86 per week for a two-bed place.

With Zoopla forecasting 4% rent rises by the end of the year and with energy costs expected to rise by around £442 per year, more households could find themselves on the breadline.

Jenna Fansa, Head of Fundraising at Hackney Foodbank, said: “We already hear from people skipping meals because there isn’t any money left in the pot once the rent has been paid. With rent, food and energy prices rising things will only get worse.  We have added our voice to a letter urging the Prime Minister to bring Local Housing Allowance in line with local rents.”

In Hackney, according to the Government’s indices of deprivation, 64% of children and 55% of older people live in income-deprived homes.  That’s the second highest in all of England.  The average waiting time for a two-bed local authority home here is 12 years, so most residents have to rent from private landlords.

Jenna added: “We urgently need the government to take action to ensure Local Housing Allowance more adequately reflect actual rents – otherwise food poverty will continue to climb.”

Please join Trussell’s campaign and urge the government to take action. Visit https://action.trussell.org.uk/local-housing-allowance