The Government has committed to helping low paid workers by introducing a new home-finding scheme where a resident with the offer of work outside their local area will be given help to find affordable accommodation to their new job. The scheme will begin in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and if deemed successful it will be rolled out throughout the country.

Housing Minister John Healey has also outlined plans to give councils and housing associations a greater role in helping tenants in low paid jobs, by holding financial health checks to help keep them out of debt and ensure they receive the tax breaks and other Government support they are entitled to, and by offering advice about training opportunities to help them in better paid work. The government is to make £1.2 million available next year for councils and housing associations to run test schemes in up to 15 areas across the country.

Healey said: "Many residents in council and housing association homes are finding it difficult to make ends meet. They are more likely to be in low-paid work and often have been more affected by the recession, with reduced hours, less overtime, and wage cuts. But they are determined to stand on their own feet and to work hard for themselves and their families. These people are the recession's real 'squeezed middle', and we should recognise their determination, offer help and advice and remove obstacles that might get in the way of taking up a better job.”

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