Housing Benefit Minister Helen Goodman MP will attend an open event organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) on 4 February to invite views on the future of Housing Benefit.
Housing Benefit accounts for over 80 per cent of government funding for housing in the UK. It is currently paid to 5 million tenants and amounts to £17 billion per year. Government plans to reform Housing Benefit to ensure that it supports people back into work rather than creating a barrier to seeking employment, and the consultation on the future of the benefit is open until 22 February.
CIH is hosting an online discussion forum for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and sees the event in London, which is free to attend, as another important way for people interested in the future of Housing Benefit to make their views and experiences known directly with the Minister responsible.
Abigail Davies, CIH Head of Policy, said: “We are delighted that Helen Goodman has asked us to host this event, it is vital that as many people as possible go along and have their say and take this chance to influence future government policy.”
*ENDS*
News release issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, CIH Press Office, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP. Telephone: 02476 851780 or 07786 716961. Email: press@cih.org.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of over 22,000 – both in the public and private sectors – living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org
2. CIH is hosting a free consultation event in London on the 4 February with the housing benefit minister, Helen Goodman, see www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/ministers/#hg for a profile of the minister. To book your place email events@cih.org and quote HB Consultation 15029 in the subject field.
3. The online discussion site hosted by CIH is at http://www.housingbenefitconsultation.co.uk/
4. The government consultation on the future of Housing Benefit is open until 22 February and can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hb-consultation.pdf
5. The Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing magazine’s House Proud campaign is making the case for housing. More details are at www.insidehousing.co.uk/houseproud
