Food bank welcomed (From York Press)

Food bank welcomed

10:18am Friday 26th October 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

I WOULD like to thank the Tressell Trust for opening a food bank in York, which will help many residents in desperate situations.

It is a sad fact that 270 food banks have opened in this country in the 21st century.

Many more people may have to rely on such help. Due to high York living costs, many working people receive housing benefit when wages are not enough to pay the rent. This is to be reduced while rent rises and wages are frozen.

The simple fact is that people become redundant. Under housing benefit changes, from next April, under 35-year-olds living in a two-bed terraced or one-bed flat will be expected to move or pay the rent difference from savings. Housing benefit will only be paid for a shared house room rate. If you are under 35 in work and receiving housing benefit due to low income, your help will also be reduced.

For residents working full time on minimum/ low wage, life will become harder.

I can imagine many more people will look for help from such organisations and they should not be condemned as some on your webpage have.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Deputy leader, City of York Council.