by Joanna Earle

Brutal benefit cuts will leave Kent's jobseekers badly
at risk of ending up on the streets, it was revealed
today.

According to figures released by the National Housing
Federation, Medway and Thanet are likely to be the worst hit.

More than 800 people in Medway and around 600 people in
Thanet are expected to be made homeless.

In Sevenoaks, 230 could be forced out.

The Federation has now warned plans to cut housing benefit
by 10 per cent for people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for 12
months or more would have dire consequence.

In the South East as a whole, almost 22,000 people would be put
at risk of homelessness.

Single, childless claimants would be hardest hit because they
would not be entitled to any other income support from the state
other than their Jobseeker's Allowance cash.

The Federation's
Warren Finney on benefit cuts

Instead, they would be forced to make up the shortfall in their
housing benefit with a substantial proportion of their dole money,
which is worth just £65.45p a week.

With not enough cash to cover their basic household bills, the Federation warned thousands of unemployed people on housing benefit in the region will fall into arrears on their rent and be evicted.

As they would be deemed to be "at fault" for their eviction,
they would generally be classed as intentionally homeless and would
not be entitled to emergency accommodation from the local
authority.

And even if tenants do manage to pay their rent the extra
expense could plunge people into poverty and severe debt, it
said.

According to
the Federation's figures, the reduction in housing benefit would
equate to a 53 per cent drop in disposable income for people
claiming the maximum £350 a week allowance.

Warren Finney, south east manager for the National Housing Federation, said: "These cuts to housing benefit could well have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of people in the Kent.

"It will affect people's ability to feed themselves and their
children and pay their rent.

"In essence the proposals mean that those who - despite
their best efforts - have failed to find work after 12 months
will be pushed out of prosperous areas, ironically taking them even
further away from jobs.

"Not only would this increase unemployment, but it would add to
the concentration of social problems in deprived, marginalised
areas.

"They will then have to make a life choice of either buying
books and food for their children or paying for their rent."