Concern over rising number of homeless families

HOMELESSNESS in Rotherham has risen by almost a fifth in the last year.

The numbers are in line with shocking new figures revealing that 346 families in the Yorkshire and the Humber are homeless and living in temporary accommodation.

That is an 18 per cent rise since the same time last year, according to analysis of government homelessness statistics by charity Shelter.

Rotherham does not have the same scale of problem, but there are 25 households in temporary accommodation - up from 21 last year.

Dave Richmond, Rotherham Borough Council’s director of housing, said: “We are grateful to Shelter for raising this important issue but fortunately, Rotherham does not have the same depth of problem as found in larger cities.

“However, even in Rotherham we have seen a 19 per cent increase in homeless cases and now have 25 households, which can include single people, in temporary accommodation.

“Decent, affordable accommodation is a basic need for everyone, and as a council we are doing all we can to help people with this.”

Shelter warned that the combination of relentless welfare cuts and a drastic shortage of genuinely affordable homes was leaving more families struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

Responding to the figures, chief executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb (pictured), said: “These figures are yet another reminder of the impact welfare cuts and the drought of genuinely affordable homes is having on families and children in Yorkshire and the Humber.”