New figures from the Welsh Assembly Government show that the number of households accepted as homeless between July and September 2010 increased by nine per cent from the previous quarter. This also represents a rise of nine per cent on the same period the previous year and the highest number of households approaching their local authority in a quarter since July – September 2006.
Ceri Dunstan of Shelter Cymru said:
“This is a dramatic increase and confirms our concerns about the cumulative impact of the recession, increasing unemployment and a drastic shortage of affordable homes in Wales.
“As far back as last summer, nearly 50 per cent of people who took part in a survey carried out for us by YouGov said that they struggled at least some of the time to pay their rent or mortgage.
“The UK government’s cuts to housing benefit and other welfare changes will, in our view, make this situation even worse in the months to come as people are more likely to fall into arrears.
“Worryingly, this period also saw an increase in the number of families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation. At the end of September 2010 they accounted for eight per cent of all households in bed and breakfast accommodation, up 26 per cent from the same quarter in 2009.
“Local authorities have done a lot of good work over recent years to reduce the use of B&B and other temporary accommodation, so this increase would seem to reflect a much greater demand on their resources.
“As always, we urge anyone who having problems paying their rent or mortgage to get independent advice as soon as possible.”
