WE need to take notice of knowledgeable homeless charity chief Maura Jackson’s wise words.

The chief executive of Bolton Young Person’s Housing Scheme has warned of tough times ahead for young people due to changes in housing benefit.

The end to automatic entitlement to housing benefit for under-21s, she explained, could lead to homelessness of epic proportions across the country.

Maura knows what she is talking about. She has not only had a working lifetime involved with keeping young people off the streets but knows full well that mental health problems, sexual exploitation, abuse and debt are linked up here.