Homelessness increases by 34 PER CENT under Coalition as soaring rents and benefit cuts bite

Savage benefit cuts and soaring rents have sparked a homeless crisis, says a damning report.

The number of people forced to sleep rough rose 6% across England last year - and 60% in London since 2011.

Temporary accommodation is being overwhelmed – after a 10% rise in those seeking it last year. Bed and breakfast placements are also up, by 14%.

In total homelessness – which covers people in squats, hostels and shelters – has risen by 34% since the Coalition came to power, says the joint study by homeless charity Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Some hidden forms of homelessness – including secret sharing and overcrowding – are also rising.

Overcrowding has reached 5% across England, 12% on average in London, but up to 25% in some areas.

The Homelessness Monitor report also blames the Bedroom Tax for causing severe hardship.

It reveals that it has led to a sharp rise in families falling into arrears, particularly in the Midlands and the North. The revelations came after it emerged the government had sneaked out plans to slash benefits even further.

George Osborne buried a £600million welfare cut in the small print of last week’s Autumn Statement.

Under his plans so-called “work allowances” – the amount a claimant can keep before benefits begin to be withdrawn – will now be frozen for three years from April 2014.

This means the value of the benefit will be cut by 8.7% in real terms, after inflation. Alongside other measures this will mean single mums will be up to £420 a year worse off, while a couple with children face losing £230.

The stealth raid will further stretch family budgets – threatening further homelessness.

The study says: “The shortage of housing combined with government’s policies – particularly reforms and cuts to housing benefit – mean ­homelessness is predicted to continue to rise, despite signs of a recovering economy.”

Crisis chief Leslie Morphy said: “Shamefully, it is the poorest and most vulnerable bearing the brunt.”

Emma Reynolds, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, said: “Labour will tackle the housing crisis by increasing the number of new homes built to at least 200,000 a year by 2020 and we will scrap the cruel Bedroom Tax.”

But the Government today pointed to October figures showing a 5.8% rise in housebuilding.

David Cameron’s official spokesman claimed the figures were “evidence of the economic plan working”.

He said: “The latest statistics show new housing construction up almost 19% on a year ago and as part of this new public housing orders are at their highest level for 20 years.”



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   Damning indictment on this awful coalition government..Time to get rid.