More than 300,000 people in Britain are homeless
Recorded homelessness has now reached a staggering 307,000 in Britain, reveals Shelter. That's more than the entire population of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Homelessness has increased by over 13,000 people in the last year alone.
One in every 200 people is currently homeless across Britain; however it is significantly worse in some places.
- One in every 25 people in Newham are homeless
- One in every 29 people in Haringey are homeless
- One in every 31 people in Westminster are homeless
- One in every 33 people in Enfield are homeless
- One in every 52 people in Luton are homeless
- One in every 88 people in Birmingham are homeless
- One in every 154 people in Manchester are homeless
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “It’s shocking to think that today more than 300,000 people in Britain are waking up homeless.
“Some will have spent the night shivering on a cold pavement, others crammed into a dingy hostel room with their children. And what is worse, many are simply unaccounted for.”
This dramatic rise in homelessness is down to low wages, high rents, inflation and benefit cuts.
While average private rents have gone up 33% since the 1990s, the average low wage worker has only seen a 40p pay rise in the last decade.
Pritie Billimoria, Head of Communications at Turn2us, said: “This is simply not good enough, we expect to see some relief on offer in the upcoming budget”
If you are struggling, help with housing costs are available.