Serious question – how interested are you to hear what the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, will outline in the Spring Budget next week? At the St Martin’s Charity, we’re really interested and hoping for some good news as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.

Each year we ask frontline staff across our UK-wide Frontline Network, working directly with people without a home, to help us understand some of the issues people are facing. They are reporting serious concerns with rising demand for their services while facing significant difficulties in finding affordable and suitable housing for the people they support.

From what these extraordinary frontline workers have said here are three things to listen out for in next week’s budget.

Firstly, frontline workers are asking the government to invest in the Local Housing Allowance rate. The LHA sets the amount of housing benefit people who are on a low income can claim to help pay their rent. Frontline staff tell us how difficult it is for people to maintain their rent payments as costs go up. People need help from the government.

Next, frontline workers want to see more money available, at least in line with inflation, for government funded homelessness services. There’s huge pressure on the work they are doing, and the government could do more.

Finally, frontline workers are telling us that ending homelessness will require significant and sustained commitment from government. Beyond this budget, they are asking Government to continue to work together with people who have experienced homelessness and those who work on the frontline offering support to realise this ambition.

So, listen out next week and ask yourself after the budget, will more people have a safe place to call home and the support they need?

Tim Bissett
St Martin’s Charity