I shall be contesting the Bedford & Kempston seat at the 2015 general election, so I was delighted to learn of Bedfordshire Men’s Forum, and their associated website http://bedfordshiremensforum.wordpress.com. On the website I was startled to read this:
Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association refuse to add a child residing with a father to the housing needs assessment. This means the child is invisible. The father has no chance of providing suitable social housing. Further impairing the chances of the child of having a relationship with their father.
Similarly, Bedford Borough Council also discriminate against fathers who have children residing with them. By refusing to pay housing benefit so the child can have a bedroom. Again the child is invisible. The child is likely to suffer from a diminished relationship with their father, and live in severe poverty when residing with their father for nearly half their lives.
So while the state bends over backwards for single mothers, it ignores the plight of single fathers. I shall be writing to the two bodies to confirm whether this appalling state of affairs remains the case.
I invite anyone interested in men’s human rights, and living in the Bedford area, to email me at mb1957@hotmail.co.uk.
