An advice worker says, “I am working with someone who has been offered housing association accommodation, owing to her current accommodation being overcrowded and poorly maintained. She faces the problem of finding basic furniture, such as a cooker, which is going to be very difficult because of benefit cuts and the pressure on local charities to meet increased demand. She is in significant debt, since the state of the property has required excessive amounts of heating. She also has care of two teenagers still in school. It is very difficult for her to meet costs, and she will cut back on her own food and needs to try and meet the children’s.”