Charity: 'Homelessness to be a bigger problem in North East next year'
Emmaus say more needs to be done to tackle the issue
A North East homelessness charity tell us that they predict the number of those living on the streets will increase next year.
Emmaus believe that more needs to be done in the region to combat the issue.
Ruth Parker, Chief Executive of the North East branch, said: "In the New Year, we want to increase our income by whatever means we can, have the support of all the local authorities across the North East, to have a joint strategy to try and increase the accommodation that we have available, to reduce the number of people who are sofa surfing and sleeping on the streets.
"The cost of living crisis and the way the economy is at the moment, what we're seeing is a rise week-on-week. We don't anticipate that going away. There's fewer affordable homes, fewer decent affordable homes and all that's happening is that's pushing people on to the streets.
"We know it's going to get greater because of the cost of living crisis and lack of affordable homes. It means more sofa surfers, more people having to sleep on the streets which, from my point of view, really unacceptable.
"We'll be looking for Government funding and grants from wherever they're available. Without the funders that we've had this year, we would have not been able to offer the accommodation to the people that we have.
"For most people, January can be seen as a really exciting new start to the year but for a homeless person it's not. It's that they continue to be in that position for yet another year as you move into one."
Find out more about Emmaus on their website.