Dozens of MP’s, Lords, and representatives from various councils and charitable organisations gathered to learn of the cost savings to the public purse created by investments in Local Welfare Assistance (LWA) and Furnished Tenancies (FTs) in Westminster this week.
End Furniture Poverty launched a new report, a ‘Cost Benefit Analysis of Local Welfare Assistance and Furnished Tenancies’, which found that for every pound invested in Local Welfare, there is a cost saving to the public purse of over £14.20, with investments in Furnished Tenancies doubling its value in savings to the public purse.
The event was sponsored by Carolyn Harris, MP for Neath and Swansea East, and speeches from Danny Beales, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside, made it clear how valuable these findings are.
Danny said: “It is a no brainer to take action in this space. It financially makes sense, and it morally makes sense to take action to stop the devastating impact of furniture poverty and its long-term effect on the poorest parents and families.
“We know that needs to happen – now we have to make it happen.”
Kim added: “We have the opportunity to make things a lot better and we want to improve the quality of life for everybody. Having this firm evidence is something we can utilise effectively to make this happen.
“Living without flooring, furniture and appliances means a house is not a home, and furnished tenancies provide the opportunity to change that.”
With a significant number of MPs in attendance from across the political spectrum, there was a consensus that there is a need for reform in the social housing sector. The current 2% of social housing that is let as furnished is not adequate to meet the level of need for essential items, and the campaign to ‘Make a House a Home’ by ensuring that at least 10% of all social housing is furnished continued to gain significant traction.
Labour, Liberal Democrat, Independent, and Cross Bench MPs and Peers all pledged support to increase the provision of FTs, and the End Furniture Poverty team had productive discussions about how this pledge can become enshrined in legislation.
The partners in the research, Liverpool City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Onward Homes and North Tyneside Council attended the event to talk about their local work to End Furniture Poverty and will be using the evidence to demonstrate the value of their individual schemes.
Also in attendance were officials from organisations including the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Federation of Housing, The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, and Glasspool who spoke about the importance of both crisis support and ensuring that individuals and families have access to essential items.
The publication of the Cost Benefit Analysis report which provides a robust economic case for providing LWA and FTs has further intensified the belief of those across the sector that investment in these areas is the right thing to do; not just morally, but financially.
As End Furniture Poverty moves forward, the momentum created by this event in Westminster will be used to push for an expansion of the provision of furnished tenancies in social housing. EFP will also continue to collaborate with the charity sector to ensure that Local Welfare Assistance is adequately funded, with recommendations being made to create a long-term safety net which can match the level of need within communities.
Together we will End Furniture Poverty.
By Daniel Peake, End Furniture Poverty
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