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Policy briefings

Centrepoint regularly produces briefings on key policy issues for parliamentarians and key local authority councillors.  We also produce a quarterly policy briefing on the ongoing key issues for Centrepoint.

Centrepoint briefing on the impact of capping total houshold benefits (January 2012)

As part of the welfare reform bill, the government plans to cap total houshold benefits at £500 per week. This briefing outlines the potential effects on youth homelessness, and urges the government to look at fixing the broken housing market before penalising families receiving welfare benefits.

Centrepoint briefing to Lords on the education bill (June 2011)

This briefing outlines Centrepoint's concerns and recommendations on the major changes proposed in the education bill. Our comments focus mainly on the government's pledge to make sure that 16-18 education is inclusive of all young people ahead of the raising of the participation age.

Centrepoint briefing to Lords on the localism bill (June 2011)

Centrepoint's briefing to Lords on the localism bill focuses upon our worry that the bill will mke it more difficult for formerly homeless young people to find suitable accommodation to be resettled into once they move on from homelessness providers such as Centrepoint.

Centrepoint briefing on the welfare reform bill (March 2011)

In this briefing to members of the standing committee on the bill, Centrepoint argues for a series of amendments to the legislation which would take account of different regional living costs, the need for direct payments to landlords, and ensure benefit sanctions were appropriate to individual claimants.

Centrepoint briefing on changes to the shared room rate (February 2011)

Centrepoint's briefing to parliamentarians urges a government re-think on raising the age for receiving the shared room rate from 25 to 35.  We are concerned that combined with the change in calculating local housing allowance there will be insufficient accommodation for young people leaving Centrepoint's services.

Centrepoint briefing on educational maintenance allowances (January 2011)

Centrepoint argues for homeless young people to retain non-discretionary grants to support them remaining in 16-19 education or training.  We argue that young people should receive the money directly to support financial learning and independence.