With progress on poverty stuck in Wales, what can social landlords do about it? That was the theme of a TAI session by Victoria Winckler, director of the Bevan Foundation, who detailed key themes of work it did with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
She said Wales had been stuck at 23 per cent of the population, or 700,000 people, in poverty for the last 10 years.
There had been virtually a direct trade-off between out of work poverty going down and in-work poverty going up and there had been no improvement in the most deprived areas.
The Bevan Foundation and JRF came up with a five-point plan covering economic growth for all, education and skills, strengthening families and communities, cutting costs and effective social security.
Victoria Winckler said there were key roles for social landlords in tenant and community support and rent setting and more scope on procurement, on top of what has already been achieved in Wales.
The Q&A that followed showed the breadth of the work being done in Welsh housing to tackle poverty but also the challenges posed by wider policy.
Questions on poverty
First, how can we be serious about tackling poverty when rents are rising by more than inflation?
Victoria Winckler said 44 per cent of UK tenants live in poverty after housing costs but only 28 per cent before housing costs.
‘Somehow rent policies are increasing poverty in a way that doesn’t happen in owner occupation or even the private rented sector,’ she said. ‘It’s clear to me that there is something going on – whether it’s bedroom tax, LHA or the rent charged I don’t know. It’s a big untalked-about thing in Wales.’
Second, should Welsh Government be more radical in taking on Universal Credit and devolving it to Wales. Can we make progress in tackling poverty if we don’t do that?
Victoria said there was a strong case for taking on responsibility for the housing element. And the sooner devolution happens the better because trajectory of benefits is down
There could also be a case for devolving disability benefits but pensions should remain a UK duty.
Third, what about universal basic income? Victoria said the report had concluded the benefits in terms of reducing poverty, but not a big enough benefit to take on economic and political challenges of the policy.