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Homelessness up as recession bites

Friday, 9 September 2011 12:30 PM

The number of people accepted as homeless by local authorities is up 17 per cent on last year, according to recent government figures that fuelled concern from charities that the worst is yet to come.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said local authorities accepted 11,820 families as owed a main homelessness duty in the April-June 2011 quarter. That compares with 9,590 in the same period last year.

The rise is further evidence of a serious homelessness problem after 2010/11 saw the first year-on-year increase in acceptances for five years.

Housing minister Grant Shapps said: "Whilst homelessness remains at a historic low, today's figures underline how the effects of the worst recession for a generation continue to deliver difficult times for households up and down the country.

"But anyone facing financial difficulty or the prospect of losing their own home is not alone. There is help available and everything will be done to help people avoid homelessness: I urge anyone who thinks they may be at risk of losing their home to take action immediately.”

However, homelessness charity Crisis said a combination of the continuing economic downturn plus the government’s weakening of the welfare state meant that the worst was yet to come.

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