Homelessness Warning

Shelter has warned of a rise in homelessness as new research reveals the number of households in rent or mortgage arrears has more than doubled in the past year. A YouGov survey found the equivalent of 835,000 households (3%) admit to being in arrears with their rent or mortgage, compared to 405,000 households (2%) in October 2009. Worryingly, households with children are most at risk (5%). Shelter estimates that more than 480,000 children are currently living in families that are falling behind with their basic housing costs. The survey also showed increasing numbers of people fighting to stay afloat, as 3.7 million households (15%) said they constantly struggle to pay their rent or mortgage, almost double that of October last year (8%). With recent government figures showing the first sustained increase in homelessness since 2003, Shelter is warning that homelessness could be set to soar in 2011 as Government cuts to housing benefit and support for homeowners - along with predicted job losses and increases in living costs - push thousands of struggling households over the edge. Read more on the Shelter website.