TWO men who are living on the streets have explained how the cost of living crisis has affected their lives while they await Universal Credit payments. 

Colin Marriott, 42, and Roy Little, 46, have been homeless since before the pandemic and are currently sleeping on the streets of Brighton. 

Both of the men are awaiting their monthly Universal Credit payment which they say has been delayed due to various administrative issues. 

Speaking to The Argus outside Brighton Job Centre, Colin, who is an army veteran, said that his £219 a month payment is not enough to get by on with the rising cost of living. 

The Argus: Colin Marriott Colin Marriott

He said: “Most people get about £300 a fortnight, how come I’m still on £219 a month? I can’t live off that. 

“As if it’s not hard enough, it doesn’t actually come in on time, so you end up getting in debt even more just trying to cover it. 

“Just buying a sandwich and a bottle of pop, it’s gone up so much, and the cost of living whilst being on the streets has gone up tremendously. 

“Before it was costing me £3.50 to eat and now it’s costing £9.

“I’m having to pay £26 a week 'top up' in accommodation, and it’s gone instantly and I can’t afford to pay that so I’ll be on the streets. I’ve got no choice at the minute.

“Why should I have to go and shoplift just to survive? To just buy food, I don’t want to have to do that.

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

“I’ve not always been like this, I was in the army for 14 years, serving Queen and country, and then I’ve been homeless basically since and just left on the pavement.”

Roy echoed his feelings, he was forced to sleep on the streets because of his delayed payment which he would ordinarily put towards emergency accommodation. 

Roy said: “They’re basically forcing me to stay out on the street, they said to wait and then first thing in the morning I’d get the payment, but it hasn’t come in yet still.

“If they do find us somewhere to stay it's not £10 a week electric anymore, it’s £20 a week. 

“They should never have given us that extra £100 at the beginning because now it’s been taken away from us you notice it. 

“They keep changing the rules all the time and when you’re homeless you’re not getting letters or post, you’re not getting the information you need. It’s ridiculous."

The Argus:

Colin is also concerned that the reduction of the monthly payment will lead him back into bad habits. 

He said: “Since the pandemic, all the government has done is rip the benefit money, they put it up then taken it back down, how can they give you something and then take it away from you.

“Now, the cost of living has gone up by 40 per cent and they’ve taken that £100 extra they gave us away. That’s wrong. 

“Then they put you in emergency accommodation which is throwing you back into a circle which is leading you down a one way street to using drugs or alcohol. 

“I’m sorry but I got rid of all that and now I’ve been put back into the centre of it all. 

“All we’re doing is asking for emergency accommodation, it’s hard enough being homeless and trying to find somewhere let alone being vulnerable enough and thinking, hang on a minute I’m tempted to use [drugs] and with the lifestyle I’m living at the minute, why wouldn’t I?” 

Colin and Roy’s experiences are becoming increasingly common in Brighton, with The Argus reporting earlier this week that there were 25,008 people receiving Universal Credit on April 14 - the highest number since January. 

The Argus:

Universal Credit has come under scrutiny in recent months, as the rising cost of basic household goods and energy has driven some to call for the rate to be increased, or for it to be made more widely accessible.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said: “As we recover from the pandemic, we are working hard to attract jobs, opportunities and apprenticeships, raising wages and supporting the lowest paid in our city.

“The unemployment rate is coming down– from around 13,500 in 2020 to around 8,000 last year. But more than 40 per cent of those claiming Universal Credit are in work.

“Unemployment is still too high and we are taking action to tackle this.

“We are funding the Brighton and Hove Youth Employment Hub, helping 16-25 year olds with education, training and apprenticeships.

“But there are still far too many people who are experiencing extreme hardship due to the cost-of-living crisis.”