Shoebox Britain: how shrinking homes are affecting our health and happiness

The slicing and dicing of housing is redefining the idea of home. Those forced to live in ever smaller spaces describe how this changes their lives

Jenny had run out of choices when she first walked into her basement studio flat last spring. The charity worker had been kicked out of her shared home in Bristol when her landlord sold it. She was on benefits, having been signed off sick with post-traumatic stress and anxiety after giving evidence as a victim of crime.

While being put up on a friend’s sofa, Jenny, who is 35 but does not want to use her real name for fear of jeopardising her tenancy, scoured online sites for rooms within her budget. Housing benefit claimants in the city can generally receive up to £300 a month for shared accommodation. “Rooms here were going for anywhere from £400, but even if I had that money, I could be rejected because I’m on benefits,” Jenny says.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2ysM5df

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