Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference for the housing charities Shelter and Crisis, I called for support for the most vulnerable during the Cost of Living crisis as well as renewing my calls for a rent freeze to help renters. I am clear that we must look after the most vulnerable people in our community – especially in a Cost of Living crisis – and have been making that case to Government ministers. This week I met with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and asked her to ensure that benefits for the most vulnerable are uprated in line with inflation next April.
I have proposed and called for a rent freeze for two years to help renters manage through these difficult times. A rent freeze would help in holding back the inflation in this period and therefore it would have a positive impact on public finances too. We must make sure that rent levels do not keep ever escalating because people just cannot afford them right now.
Whilst at the conference, I spoke about the tremendous work Dover District Council has done on their local council housebuilding programme, and I look forward to these much-needed affordable new homes being made available to our community.
I also paid tribute to the excellent work of Dover Outreach Centre for their tireless work supporting those in our community struggling to find accommodation and support at this time or who find themselves homeless and on the streets. We must, as a community, support all efforts to look after those most in need of our help and support in our area.
Calling for support for the most vulnerable during the Cost of Living crisis and help for renters and households
