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Millions cut back to pay for housing

Thursday, 19 January 2012 10:45 AM

Millions of people are cutting back their spending on heating and food to pay for housing costs, according to Shelter.

A YouGov survey for the homelessness charity reveals that one in five people have cut their spending on gas and electricity to help pay their rent or mortgage in the last 12 months. That is an increase of 60 per cent since 2008.

Meanwhile one in three of us have spent less on food to pay for our housing, a rise of 44 per cent over the same period.

Campbell Robb, Shelter chief executive, said: "These staggering findings show just how many millions of people are cutting back on essentials as the continued squeeze on incomes starts to really bite.

"It demonstrates the tough choices families are now having to make, between heating their home, putting a decent meal on the table or paying for the roof over their head."

Shelter is urging anyone struggling with their rent or mortgage to get advice as soon as they can to try to avoid putting their home at risk.

YouGov surveyed 4,014 British adults in December 2011 and the results equate to 10 million people reducing the amount they spend on fuel for their home and 16 million cutting their spending on food to meet their housing costs.

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