New figures from the Welsh Government show that the number of households accepted as homeless in Wales between January and March 2011 increased by 13 per cent on the same time last year.
Loss of accommodation due to rent or mortgage arrears accounted for over a quarter of all acceptances. Meanwhile local authorities’ use of bed and breakfast accommodation continues to increase.
John Puzey, director of Shelter Cymru, said: “These figures make very grim reading. The rise in the number of people losing their homes because of rent or mortgage arrears demonstrates that the recession continues to cast a very long shadow in Wales as people experience higher risk of unemployment and increased costs of living.
“Homelessness levels are now at their highest since 2006 and this increased pressure is undermining the good work that councils have done over recent years to reduce the use of B&B accommodation – both the number and proportion of families with children put up in B&Bs has increased significantly since the same time last year.”
While there has been a fall in the number of people made homeless because their family or other relatives can no longer accommodate them, the charity is concerned that cuts being introduced to housing benefit could reverse this in the months to come.
Mr Puzey said: “In particular, the deductions in housing benefit for households with non-dependents such as adult children or other relatives will increase pressure on families and mean that they are less able to make ends meet.
“It will clearly mean that some individuals will have to find alternative homes, placing additional pressure on local housing and pushing some people into unaffordable accommodation.”
The charity urges anyone who is having problems with their rent or mortgage to get independent advice as soon as possible.
The statistics can be found on the Welsh Government’s website at http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/housing2011/110622/?lang=en
