Housing benefit

People living in St Mungo's accommodation have to pay rent in order for us to be able to provide an effective service. For nearly everyone who lives in our accommodation that cost is covered by housing benefit.

Housing benefit is not only an important part of how St Mungo's is funded, it is the crucial means of ensuring the people with no other resources can pay rent (for more information see our Annual Review).

Despite lurid headlines which suggest that the housing benefit system is generally being used by people who abuse it, for most people housing benefit is the only way they have of keeping a roof over their heads. We are working with other organisations to ensure that housing benefit continues to provide secure accommodation for homeless people and is not eroded or distorted as a result of current Government proposals.

To find more about our views see our Response to Work and Pensions Housing Benefit Inquiry