Comment:Helping in a crisis

Dec 9 2008 by Val Javin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE BIGGEST fear facing people in today’s credit crunch is losing their homes.

And for many, it is an increasingly likely prospect.

As more and more jobs are axed, the inevitable outcome is that more and more people find it impossible to pay their rent or their mortgage. And having their home re-possessed goes from being their worst nightmare to a terrifying reality.

Next week, Kirklees Council will discuss the possibility of offering interest free loans to those unable to meet mortgage payments in the current financial situation.

Neighbouring Wakefield Council has already introduced a similar idea and perhaps not surprisingly, it is proving a great hit.

Next Wednesday’s council meeting will discuss the possibilities.

Few will find anything negative in an idea that plans to offer help in the current economic circumstances. It keeps families together, reduces stress and the potential of marital break-ups and in the long term, takes the burden off already overstretched council support services.

Where people will be anxious is in getting some guarantees from the council that this is affordable, sustainable support and that the reality is that while helping those in dire need today, they are not overburdening others tomorrow.