Charity warns of surge of homeless

Crisis said it was concerned about a possible surge in homelessness in the new year after a survey it commissioned showed 9% of people with mortgages or with rent to pay are experiencing difficulties fulfilling these commitments.

Of those with an opinion, nearly a third, or 32%, predicted they would lose their home within three months of losing their main form of income, the study found. The YouGov online survey of 2,015 adults earlier this month showed 41% of adults in Britain know somebody who has lost their job due to the economic downturn.

Those renting privately are facing even more difficulty, the research showed, with 61% saying they would no longer be able to afford to stay in their homes if they lost their main form of income. More than one in ten renting privately (11%) are struggling to pay their rent with almost a third (32%) worrying that they could lose their home as a result of the economic downturn.

The poorest are the most vulnerable to the impact of the economic downturn with more than three times as many people with lower incomes struggling to pay the rent and mortgage compared to more affluent groups in Britain. The findings have been made public after figures were published last week showing unemployment looking certain to top two million in the New Year.

The overall number of unemployed people including those not eligible for benefits increased by 137,000 in the quarter to October to 1.86 million the highest figure for more than a decade.

The findings were revealed as Crisis opened nine temporary centres across London to hundreds of people who are homeless and vulnerably housed. The centres will provide hot meals and shelter as well as services such as housing and job advice, health checks, training and further education opportunities.

Crisis said it had drawn up a "manifesto" for the Government to help those facing unemployment and repossession, tackle housing need and support those already out of work or homeless. It is calling for measures including more social housing in all areas of the country and reform of housing benefit to remove current poverty traps and work disincentives.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: "These figures are a stark warning for 2009. Today we open the doors of Crisis Christmas to hundreds of homeless people in London - some of the most vulnerable and deprived people in our society. The economic downturn is hitting the poorest the hardest. Many are struggling to keep their homes. The situation is only made worse by pressure on jobs, with unemployment levels set to reach two million by the end of the year.

"Our fear is that as the recession bites in the New Year we are going to see more people in the same situation as those relying on our Christmas centres today, whilst those already at the bottom of the pile are going to be further away from the help and support they need to put their lives back together."