Almost 18,000 children across the South West are at risk of eviction this winter
Shelter wants to see more support and protection for renters
Almost 18,000 children across the South West are under threat of eviction this winter.
Shelter is warning that thousands of families across the region are at risk of homelessness.
The housing charity says it wants to see more support and protection for renters.
It estimates that 17,900 children living in privately rented homes in the South West are at currently at risk.
The extensive polling which was carried for the charity by YouGov found that 9,300 private renting families in the region had received an eviction notice in the last month or are currently behind on their rent – putting them in real danger of losing their home.
In response Shelter is calling on the public to support its frontline advisers who are working seven days a week to help as many families as possible to find, or keep hold of, a safe home.
With the eviction ban now over and the ÂŁ65 million fund for rent arrears not enough to reach everyone struggling, the charity is concerned even more eviction notices will start rolling in as living costs rise and debts mount for many.
The fear of becoming homeless is looming large over family life, with the Shelter’s research also showing that in the South West:
• Four in five families (81%) would struggle to find another privately rented home this winter if they lost theirs.
• Nearly one in five (18%) say their children know they are struggling to pay rent.
• Shockingly, more than one in ten (12%) say their children worry about becoming homeless.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “No child should have to worry about losing their home this Christmas, let alone 17,900. But so many families in the South West will spend every day with the threat of eviction looming over them, not knowing if they will still have a home next year.
“Eviction notices have started dropping on doormats and our services are working round the clock to help families who have nowhere else to go. Like it has before - the government needs to intervene to keep people safe in their homes. We urgently need more support for renters to protect them from eviction this winter.
“Thousands of families are teetering on a cliff edge. It’s only with the public’s support that we’ll be able to keep answering calls and help as many of them as possible keep the bailiffs at bay.”
According to the latest government figures 3,000 children are already homeless in the South West, and many of them will be spending Christmas day with their families in shoddy emergency hostels and run-down B&Bs.
You can help support Shelter here.