MY COMMUNITY
Action on poverty An independent commission set up to examine poverty in Brent has delivered more than 40 recommendations to tackle the causes and consequences of poverty in the borough
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haired by Lord Richard Best, following a six-month review, the commission found that one in six households (17%) live below the poverty line in Brent. This figure doubles to 33% after housing costs are taken into account. More than one in five (22%) children live in poverty, doubling to a startling 43% after housing costs.
A FAIRER FU TURE End ing Poverty in Brent
RECOMMEND ATIONS FROM THE
Closing the housing gap
Lord Best led the Poverty Commission
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YOUR BRENT | AUTUMN 2020
BRENT POVER TY
Housing costs have risen faster than wages and created an affordability gap that pushes people into poverty and is a key cause of homelessness, the commission found. In addition, a severe shortage of social housing has forced people into the private rented
COMMISSION JULY 2020
sector where rents are two or even three times higher. To address this, the Commission recommends the council builds on its ambitious plans to generate more affordable homes. It also urges the council to launch a review of the private rented sector, and enforce decent standards.