Dover named in top ten areas in the UK at risk of homelessness
868 households are at risk
Dover in Kent has been named as one of the top ten areas in the UK at risk of homelessness.
The study, by homelessness charity Church on The Street, compared the latest UK government data on the number of households at risk of becoming homeless in every local authority, with the average number of people sleeping rough on a single night in that area.
Dover had 868 households at risk of homelessness with the average of 9 people sleeping rough each night putting them in the 10th position.
Bedford topped the list with 1724 households with Maldon in Essex second and Lambeth third.
Pastor Mick, founder of Church On The Street, says: “
The levels of homelessness and severe poverty we have seen in the UK over the past few years, is the worst it has ever been. People are truly reaching a new level of destitution, and it must be one of the first priorities of our new government to restore dignity and alleviate suffering for these most vulnerable members of society”.
Separate research found more than 150,000 children living in temporary accommodation with calls for more action to address what the Government has acknowledged is a "national scandal".
Temporary accommodation is a form of homelessness and can include people living in hostels or bed and breakfasts.
Housing charity Shelter said this Government must "tackle the housing emergency head on".
Its chief executive Polly Neate said: "Without a clear plan to invest in genuinely affordable social homes, thousands more children will be forced to grow up in damaging temporary accommodation, spending months if not years living out of suitcases, crammed into grim bedsits and B&Bs, and unable to put down any roots."