HOMELESSNESS
Helped to avoid
homelessness
Ealing has one of the best records in the country for preventing homelessness.
However, it is still a significant problem across London.
P
eople become homeless
Other factors come into play, too.
for lots of different reasons.
The government’s benefit cap limits
Social issues, relationship
the amount a working age person can
breakdowns and health
claim in welfare benefits, and Ealing
problems are just some of the causes.
has the second highest number of
However, many people who become
benefit capped households in London.
homeless do so for the simple reason
Additionally, the government’s local
that they can no longer afford their rent. housing allowance, which is used to
Ealing ranks 15
work out how much
‘The key is for people housing benefit
nationally in terms of
homelessness. There
a person can get
to talk to us as early
are several reasons
if they rent their
for this; as rents rise
home from a private
as possible’
families are pushed
landlord, has been
from inner London to outer London
frozen. Families have to make up any
boroughs like Ealing. However, Ealing is
rent shortfall and many have struggled.
not a cheap place to rent privately.
Depending on where in Ealing they
16
around ealing April 2018
live, the monthly shortfall can be
anything up to £386.
PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE
While the council still works hard to
help those in crisis, it now places
prevention at the heart of its new
strategy for tacking homelessness.
This means working with households
at the earliest opportunity, often
several months away from eviction
and homelessness.
Dedicated staff work with affected
households to help them maintain their
tenancies or find more affordable ones.
They are also supporting people with
getting into work and assisting them in