The Government today announced details of its Housing Strategy, ahead of the Chancellor's Budget statement next Tuesday.

Responding to the proposals outlined by the Prime Minister, Caroline said:

"While this long overdue strategy suggests that the Government may be starting to think seriously about the housing crisis, the proposals offer little respite to the estimated 840 people in Brighton and Hove who may lose their homes as a result of changes to the Shared Accommodation Rate of Housing Benefit.

"Nor to the many families in the city's private rented sector who are at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords and volatile rent prices.

"If the Government is serious about providing enough housing for the least well off and averting a homelessness epidemic, the Chancellor must reverse his decision last year to slash the budget for affordable housing by up to 70% and channel far more investment into new social housing."

ENDS