The personal impact of Osborne's war on welfare

Tell My Story is a new campaign website launching today, to mark the end of Poverty & Homelessness Action Week 2013

At www.tellmystory.org.uk/ people facing the hardship of welfare cuts tell their stories and how they are coping with the changes. With Welfare one of the most hotly debated topics this year, this campaign shows how changes are hurting unemployed, underemployed, sick and disabled people.

The benefit squeeze has already hurt vulnerable people in receipt of benefits. In April the squeeze is getting even tighter with the Benefit Cap, Bedroom Tax and the Cut to Council Tax Benefit. Amid these cuts George Osborne fans the flames of division describing those in need of welfare "sleeping off a life on benefits" The myth that people on benefits are living a life of luxury needs to be challenged.

Housing Justice, the national Christian housing and homelessness campaigning charity, believes that the media scapegoating of the welfare scrounger creates an unreal picture of how most claimants live. The rhetoric of strivers and skivers must stop. Whatever the motivations of those pushing this agenda, Housing Justice is launching this new national campaign to provide Britain with a window into the real world of claimants.

The 'MyStory' campaign gives people on benefits an opportunity to share their stories of struggle and survival through a public web space. The website is an online and growing wall of faces, with a story to go with each image. The claimant can remain anonymous by choosing a stock photo but Housing Justice is urging those who want to share their story to upload their own images. The public can see directly the situations of those in need and how the safety net is breaking.

The organisers say: "MyStory is a powerful national platform of solidarity for people who are suffering stigma from politicians and press. If you support the cause, then share it.

"Use the Take action page to write to your MP opposing the Bedroom Tax. Everyone has a right to a home, and enough income to provide for their needs. Join the MyStory campaign and make your voice heard!"

This is an excerpt from one person's story posted on the website: "I received a letter a few days back notifying me that as of April I would be responsible for paying a portion of my Council tax bill. Letters like these make me panic and I broke down in tears and grabbed a pen and paper to review my outgoing and incomings once again to see if any corners could be cut. I finally accepted that my food bill for my daughter and I would have to be reduced to £40 a fortnight in order to make these payments. I don't know how I will cope. We struggle as it is. I've started selling off some unnecessary items of furniture and clothes on eBay to try and make a bit of cash to put aside for this. But sometimes as a women, there's nothing left to sell if you get my drift...the thought has crossed my mind."

Alison Gelder, Director of Housing Justice says: "The churches' role is to stand in solidarity with those in need. Jesus repeatedly stood with those who were stigmatised by the authorities of his day. This campaign aims to give a voice to those who need welfare. It is a scandal that the poor are still being blamed for the mistakes of the rich".

Visit Tell My Story here: www.tellmystory.org.uk/