News from BSHF

New research from BSHF on Housing Benefit claimant numbers

Research from BSHF highlights the rapid growth of in-work Housing Benefit claimant numbers in Great Britain during 2010 and 2011.
Analysis of latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that:

• The number of Housing Benefit claimants has reached a new high of 4.95 million
• In-work households account for almost all (93 per cent) of the increase in the number of claimants in the last two years
• Almost one in four households who rent their accommodation and are in employment receive Housing Benefit

The research is free to download from the BSHF website http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?lang=00&thePubID=5E017604-15C5-F4C0-99F1DFE5F12DBC2A

Research briefing from BSHF on Regeneration

A new briefing from BSHF summarises the findings of research on the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder, Bridging NewcastleGateshead, which ran from 2003 to 2011 in the North East of England.
Particular findings of the research include:

• The importance of a long-term commitment to funding regeneration at a national level, preferably with some level of cross-party support
• The need for the government to clarify what will happen if the priorities of local communities conflict with those of national policymakers
• The need for a clear definition of the community being supported by regeneration
• The importance of understanding and addressing the needs and aspirations of the communities affected by regeneration

The research was conducted by Andrea Armstrong during a PhD at Durham University, which was supported by BSHF. The briefing is free to download from the BSHF website http://www.bshf.org/published-information/publication.cfm?lang=00&thePubID=81B12E18-15C5-F4C0-9904048F10A3C1E2