What we hope to see in the autumn budget

On 28 October, the government will set out its plans for public spending in the autumn budget.

Here, Annabeth, who leads our policy and campaigning work, sets out what we hope to see…

Through our work across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, we see every day the challenges people face when their income does not stretch far enough to cover the essentials, and the impact of homelessness and rough sleeping.

We support people who are forced to make impossible choices between heating their homes, paying their rent, or putting food on the table. 

That is why it’s essential that this year’s budget will take meaningful action to prevent more people being pushed further into poverty and hardship.  

We are encouraged by the government’s ambitions to end rough sleeping and provide relief for households facing cost of living pressures. However, we know that to turn these ambitions into reality will take bold and sustainable change. 

Here are some of the changes and commitments we hope to see later this month in the autumn budget: 

Unfreeze Local Housing Allowance rates 

We have been engaging with MPs to call on the government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and uplift them in line with local rents, with a commitment to uprating annually. 

The cost of private renting has risen significantly in recent years, but LHA rates have remained frozen since 2024.  This leaves many people receiving housing support facing growing shortfalls between their benefit payments and the rent they must pay.  

Families are being forced to cover this shortfall from already stretched budgets, leaving even less money for essentials and forcing many into rent arrears and even homelessness.  

For people we support who are rough sleeping and those in our accommodation services, the unaffordability of private renting further reduces their already limited options to move forward into a tenancy of their own. 

One person living in our temporary accommodation provision told us about the frustration of searching for a property in a highly competitive rental market with rents having risen considerably and LHA rates falling far below the true cost of renting.  They described feeling stuck, unable to make plans and look forward to the future with hope. 

Restoring LHA rates to the cheapest 30 per cent of local rents would provide immediate relief for many low-income renters and help prevent homelessness for more individuals and families. 

Join us in calling for this change by writing to your MP ahead of the autumn budget. 

Invest in social housing 

We welcome the government’s announcements to deliver more social and affordable homes.  Increasing the supply of social housing and homes that are genuinely affordable is crucial if we are to sustainably tackle homelessness. 

Many people we work with must wait years and years to reach the top of the waiting list for social housing, remaining in unsuitable accommodation or even on the streets while they wait. 

We are therefore calling on the government to bring forward more of this funding so that homes can be delivered more quickly and more people can move out of homelessness and into secure, affordable housing. 

Social security that covers the cost of essentials 

Just as housing support should reflect the true cost of renting, social security should provide enough to cover the essential costs people face. 

Rising costs in recent years mean that many people we support find that their income does not stretch far enough to meet everyday costs.  Household budgets are under significant pressure, leaving many people vulnerable to hardship and debt. 

Social security should act as a genuine safety net, ensuring that no one is left without enough to afford life’s essentials.  We hope that the autumn budget includes measures to strengthen support for those on low incomes, provide greater financial security for households who are struggling, and ensure that the social security system better reflects the real cost of living. 

Policymaking for human flourishing 

Finally, we hope that plans set out in the autumn budget will promote human dignity and protect those facing the greatest challenges. 

We believe that every person deserves a safe, secure place to call home, enough income to live with dignity and participate fully in society, and the opportunity to flourish.  

The budget is an opportunity to strengthen the support available to people experiencing poverty, homelessness and disadvantage, helping to build a society where everyone has the chance to thrive.  

We hope to see measures that reflect this vision and help build a society in which everyone can live with dignity and look to the future with hope. 

Read more about our campaigning work and what we are calling for from decision makers