The government has scrapped its year-old decision to bar 18- to 21-year-olds from receiving housing benefit amid fears the policy would drive an increase in youth homelessness. Greg Beales, Shelter’s campaign director, said: “The withdrawal of housing benefit for 18-21s put young people at real risk of homelessness. The government also announced a fresh initiative to tackle rising levels of rough sleeping. It has a manifesto commitment to halve rough sleeping numbers by 2022 and eradicate it by 2027. Official rough sleeping figures for 2017-18 estimated 4,751 people slept on the streets in England, up 15% year on year, and 169% since 2010.

Source: The Guardian March 29, 2018 14:20 UTC