Housing Minister advises homeless to seek support
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has advised household who face homelessness this Christmas to seek help and advice as soon as possible.
New figures released by the government show that 12,510 people were accepted as owed a main homelessness duty in the third quarter of the year – a rise of 6 per cent since the same period in 2010.
Mr Shapps said anyone needing advice should speak to their councils who can provide help such as:
- providing budget and rent advice for households having problems paying the rent and at risk of losing their home
- helping find out if households are eligible for benefits to help with housing costs; and
- speaking to the landlord on behalf of those at risk of eviction, or offering a rent bond to help them find alternative private rented accommodation.
Housing Minister Grant Shapps said:
“It’s easy to feel alone in the face of financial difficulty but there is help available. Every council has a legal duty to ensure that eligible homeless households are not ‘roofless’, and can provide reams of free advice and information to prevent homelessness in the first place.
“That’s why I would urge anyone facing the threat of being homeless this Christmas to seek help. My message is clear – the quicker you act, the quicker we can help.
Click here for details of today’s figures
No help is offered to people who work in this country and have had a run of bad luck Who’s morgage was paid on time But the goverment decide you owe them money so they make you homeless during the festive season and offer you a hostel where you loose all you ever worked for furnitur and lifes long personel keep sakes. If a goverment cares for its people I can’t see it. my 4 young kids my wife are all in a state of depression I.m trying to keep going but for what Im in my 50’s now and for 35yrs working and paying tax until I had a bad period I have nothing Tellme where this so called help is