A total 1,250 people are recorded as homeless in the North East, 360 of whom are children according to new research from charity Shelter.
The shocking statistic comes as Shelter warns that it is bracing itself for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023 due to the cost of living crisis. An FOI issued by the charity found that 50 of the 1,250 people without a home in the North East are sleeping rough on any given night, and 1,100 are living in temporary accommodation - some of whom are families.
Newcastle, Gateshead and County Durham have the highest numbers of homeless people in the region, with an estimated 232, 229 and 226 respectively. Estimates show a further 122 in North Tyneside, 83 in Sunderland, 68 in Northumberland and 33 in South Tyneside.
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However, the true figures are likely to be much higher as some types of homelessness go undocumented, such as sofa surfing. Across England the number of people living in temporary accommodation has risen by 74% in the last 10 years.
More than two thirds of families (68%) living in temporary accommodation in England have been there for more than a year. The charity argues that the numbers of both individuals and families living in temporary accommodation is driven by the chronic shortage of social housing and an over-reliance on grossly expensive and unstable private renting, made even worse by the three-year freeze on housing benefit and cost of living crisis.
As well as calculating the total number of homeless, Shelter has carried out the largest ever survey of homeless households living in temporary accommodation. The research found that 63% of people say living in temporary accommodation has had a negative impact on their mental health, 51% say it has a negative impact on their physical health, and 39% have found it harder to access healthcare appointments.
Shelter is issuing an urgent appeal for public support as it braces for a sharp rise in homelessness this year. The charity's emergency helpline receives an average of 1,000 calls per day, 78% of whom are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless - an increase of eight per cent from the same time last year.
Tracy Guy, Newcastle Service Lead at Shelter, said: "The new year should be a time of hope, but this isn’t the case for the 1,250 homeless people in the North East who are facing a truly bleak 2023. A cold doorway or a grotty hostel room is not a home, but this is reality for too many people today.
"Our frontline advisers are working tirelessly to help people who are desperate to escape homelessness - from the parents doing all they can to provide some shred of a normal family life while stuck in an emergency B&B, to the person terrified of another night sleeping rough. With private rents and living costs continuing to soar, thousands of people are not just facing a winter of worry, they are at risk of losing the roof over their head.
"At Shelter, we are bracing ourselves for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023. More than ever, we will be relying on the public’s generosity to help us support and campaign for all those fighting for a safe home."
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