Shelter call on public support for its frontline services rather than actually house anyone

From new government figures Shelter claim Section 21 evictions have risen by 76% to 5,940 households in a year following the end of the eviction ban in May 2021.

To be classified as ‘threatened with homelessness’ by their council, a household must be at risk of losing their home in the next eight weeks. This also means the council have a legal duty to help the household to either stay in their current home or to find somewhere new to live.

Shelter is urging the government to bring forward its long-promised Renters’ Reform Bill which will ban no-fault evictions, and to unfreeze housing benefit to help struggling renters this winter to access safe accommodation.

Amazingly Shelter is also calling on the public to support its frontline services rather than actually spend the money housing anyone.

The government’s homelessness data also revealed:

A quarter of households (25%) were found to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the loss of a private tenancy (17,530 households). This has increased by 61% in the last year.

Many private renting households are struggling with affordability issues. The number of private renting households in rent arrears who have become homeless or threatened with homelessness (2,920 households) is up 38% in the last year.

69,180 households in England became homeless or were at imminent risk of becoming homeless between April and June 2022 – this has increased by 2% in the last year. This is slightly down compared to the previous three months, however, the number of households experiencing homelessness remains worryingly high.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “This winter is going to be brutal as the cost of living crisis goes from bad to worse, and the threat of rising rents and evictions loom large.

“Not a day goes by without our emergency helpline taking yet more calls from families who are being turfed out of their homes because of no-fault evictions. Many of these families won’t be able to find another rental– and instead may spend a bleak winter trapped in emergency accommodation with nowhere to cook or eat a meal, let alone put up a Christmas tree.

“The government promised to ban no fault evictions, it must get on with the job and make the Renters’ Reform Bill law. And to protect people from the threat of homelessness this winter,it must unfreeze housing benefit so families can pay their rent. In the meantime, Shelter’s frontline advisers will do all they can to help as many people find or keep hold of a safe home.”

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