Letter: Controversial bedroom 'tax' has helped me find a home

I have been on the council's housing waiting list for 10 years without even a hint of getting a home. I was told that I would basically have to be living on the streets or in a refuge before I was even considered a chance of someone looking at my situation.

What I had to do was rent private which was at a costing of £500 a month which is a lot to come out of someone's wages.

I just could not afford it with having to pay rent, council tax and the usual household bills with two children to provide for.

I then had to move into a one bedroom flat and my children would share the bedroom whilst I slept on the sofa. Since the government have changed the policy I have been flooded with offerings of three bedroom housing and have been receiving offers of six houses at a time and at last I can give my children a decent home.

I do not condemn anyone who claims disability as a help to meet their unavoidable needs but when I was looking in desperation for a home for my family it was mission impossible because I worked. Even though on a low wage the fact that I worked rendered me 'unhelpable'.

At the time I knew of drug addicts and alcoholics who claimed housing benefit due to being classed as disabled and they were rattling around in three sometimes four bedroomed houses all paid for by someone else.

This is my issue with people who reckon this move by the government as some sort of new 'tax'.

It seems to many of us that a lot of people feel that this country owes them the right to free money because of the negative impact their own personal choices have on their lives; addictions, obesity or irresponsible procreation.

The so called bedroom 'tax' is merely an attempt to share resources and limited social housing more fairly amongst everyone who needs help.

Richard Owen

Newtown