Our latest cuts piece in the New Statesman – this one is a collection of interviews with people I spoke to the week before last about their experiences with the bedroom tax. They’ve been cut loose by politicians, as you might expect. Making sure that people who aren’t very well off are securely housed is not one of austerity’s priorities.
“This tax targets people who know how to fight for improvements and rights as a community – older people like Roach and Jill, who campaigned for better housing and now work in a community centre that runs bedroom tax surgeries and provides hot meals for people who can’t afford them. Many of the people at the largely tenant-led bedroom tax meetings across Merseyside are middle-aged or older. They’ve been in the same homes for many years and have so-called “spare” rooms because their circumstances have changed (often their kids have grown up and left). Because they’ve been around for a while, they have networks in their neighbourhoods, contacts and a lot of experience in seeing off threats. You can see exactly why politicians of all stripes would want to target them with a bedroom tax and break them up.”
Ok 2008 saw me become disabled 25years partner at the time he done the lot until in mounting debt he could no longer keep me and for the fact we weren’t housed together only 1 bed when they assessed we resided in 2 beds since 2011 ot assessment I have fought my council as my medics say why you have all paperwork they have supported me 12 weeks ago a person came into my council within weeks my banding for housing became a12 m viewing a bungalow today I bid on 1 bed so it said this morning I get a letter it bedsit sheltar offered refuge 2 weeks ago police appalled at daily anti social behaviour I endure I’m realy on meltdown with worry what’s it gonna take my death