More than 300,000 people are now homeless in the United Kingdom.
In the past year, 13,000 people became homeless. The housing charity ‘Shelter’ says that 1 in 200 people are now homeless. The official figure is 307,000 people but Shelter believes the number is probably higher.
Shelter blames changes to Conservative government policy for the increase. It also says there are too few affordable homes.
Large cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol have the most homeless people. In the London borough of Newham, 1 in 25 people are homeless. In Harringey (1 in 29), Westminster (1 in 31) and Enfield (1-33).
This is the biggest study about homelessness in the UK.
The Independent newspaper says that homelessness increased by 34% since the Conservative government became leaders in 2010.
The Labour government says the Conservative goverment should be ashamed. under the previous Labour government, homeless numbers decreased sharply, but increased sharply after 2010, said John Healey (Labour government).
The Conservative government says it is trying to deal with homelessness, but it is getting worse each year.