Rising Number of Hull Families Facing Homelessness

Across Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, over 100 people a day are at risk of losing their home.

Published 2nd Dec 2014

More people are at risk of losing their home in Hull than anywhere else in Yorkshire and the Humber.

More than 1300 homes in the city have been reposessed over the last year - with 1 in every 85 families now facing homelessness.

The second highest area is North East Lincolnshire with 1 in 91 families at risk of eviction or reposession.

That's according to the charity, Shelter. It's warning that sky-high housing costs are leaving more and more families struggling.

Scott Doors is from Shelter and told Viking FM:

"The cost of housing is incredibly high which means people are struggling to keep up with mortgage or rent repayments and we know that can cause serious problems if people get into rent arrears. It only takes one thing like losing your job or a serious illness to start that spiral down into homelessness.

"In Yorkshire and the Humber, over a 100 people a day are at risk of losing their home so we are highlighting this to make sure that people are aware. You can just imagine the horror of receiving a notice, particuarly at this time of the year, saying that you are at risk of losing your home and the devastating impact that has and the fact is that that is reality for hundreds of people in the region every week."

He says it's a particuarly big problem in our region:

"Hull actually comes out top in the region. In Yorkshire and the Humber, 1 in every 139 households is at risk of homelessness or reposession every single day, which is an incredibly high number. We are making people aware of the problem and that the sky-high cost of housing can put people at risk and if you are at risk, you should definitely come and seek help from Shelter."

The charity also says that more than 500 children in the county will wake up homeless this Christmas, they're calling on the public to help them support families facing the trauma of losing their home by donating to its emergency appeal.

To support Shelter’s emergency Christmas appeal please visit shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70060 to donate £3.