Middlesbrough has highest numbers of homeless people across the North East

Brand new analysis from Shelter reveals that 2,273 people are recorded as homeless in the North East. This figure lays bare the true scale of the region’s housing crisis, despite repeated Government pledges to tackle the problem.

To identify where the problem is most acute in the North East, the charity mapped the top 5 hotspots in the region with the highest levels of homelessness.

Middlesbrough topped the list where 122 people are homeless and sleeping on the streets or stuck in temporary accommodation, including hostels and B&Bs. This was followed by Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Stockton-on-Tees.

Shelter has launched an urgent appeal calling on the public to support its frontline advisers as they work to help the growing number of people trying to find or keep their home.

In its annual landmark review, the housing charity combined official rough-sleeping, temporary accommodation and social services figures. As these records are not definitive, the true extent of homelessness is likely even greater.

Overall, almost 320,000 people in Britain are now homeless - an increase of 13,000 people since last year.

Shelter’s report ‘Homelessness in Great Britain: the numbers behind the story’ warns this is due to a combination unaffordable rents, frozen housing benefits and a severe shortage of social housing.

Tracy Guy, Shelter North East Hub Manager, said: “It’s unforgivable that thousands of people in the North East have been swept up by the housing crisis and now have no place to call home. These new figures show that homelessness is having a devastating impact on the lives of people right across the region."

“Due to the perfect storm of spiralling rents, welfare cuts and a total lack of social housing, record numbers of people are sleeping out on the streets or stuck in the cramped confines of a hostel room. We desperately need action now to change tomorrow for the hundreds of thousands whose lives will be blighted by homelessness this winter.

“Shelter’s services have never been more needed. That’s why we’re asking the public to support us this winter so that we can answer as many calls as possible and have trained advisers on hand when people need them most.”

Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:

“No one should be left without a roof over their head, which is why we are determined to end rough sleeping and respond to the causes of homelessness.

“We are investing more than £1.2 billion to tackle all forms of homelessness and a new law requires councils to support people sooner to help prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.

“Our rough sleeping strategy, support for councils and those working on the front line are helping to get people off the street and into accommodation as we enter the colder winter months.

“We are committed to building the homes our country needs - including through our £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme and by empowering councils to borrow to build a new generation of council homes.

“But we know that there is more that we need to do and we’re committed to working with Shelter and others to make a positive difference on this important issue."