Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Chiara Fiorillo & Lucy Marshall

Desperate family with toddler start sleeping in car during cost of living crisis

A desperate couple with a toddler has been forced to sleep in their car with just a few of their belongings as the cost of living crisis continues to hit households around the country.

The family, found sleeping in a Kia in Leeds on Friday night, were using some clothes to keep warm, a team supporting vulnerable citizens said.

It is feared more and more families in the UK will end up homeless due to the rising cost of bills, food, and mortgages, as many households are struggling to make end's meet.

Vulnerable Citizen Support Leeds said it received a report about two adults sleeping rough in their car in the city.

However, when it arrived to evaluate the situation, it realised there was also a small toddler with them, Leeds Live reports.

The cost of living crisis is having an impact on households all around the UK (Stock photo) (Getty Images)

The family had "only a few bags of clothing and not much more", the support group said.

Vulnerable Citizen Support explained: "Once again we come across a situation that isn't a normal one we deal with.

"It's becoming more and more common as we go on."

The support unit found a hotel for the family at the weekend and is now looking at options to help them in the long term, such as paying a bond to get them into a home before the weather gets even colder.

After the team shared an appeal on social media, a number of people offered the family a spare room.

A person said: "Such sad times we are living in. This should not be happening in this day and age."

Another wrote: "Homelessness is going to start rising more, it's sad really sad."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family. You can donate here.

This morning, Kwasi Kwarteng declined to stay whether benefits will be increased in line with inflation, as the Government U-turned on plans to cut the top rate of income tax for the highest earners.

The Chancellor said he is "not committed to any spending" during an interview on LBC radio.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng and Prime Minister Liz Truss on the opening day of the annual Conservative Party conference (Getty Images)

Failing to keep pace with rising prices would leave some of the poorest households facing a real-terms cut in their incomes.

It comes as the Government dramatically dropped its plans to abolish the 45 per cent rate on earnings over £150,000 following widespread criticism.

Pressed on the issue of benefits uprating, Mr Kwarteng told LBC: "I'm not going to comment on spending today.

"What we are focused on is the growth plan, we have got a medium-term plan which will set out more spending policies in the near future."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.