Rise in homelessness expected

More people are expected to visit Christmas shelters following government cuts

by Symon Hill 16th December 2011

  Quaker Homeless Action (QHA) are expecting more people than usual to visit their Christmas shelter this year – as a result of government cuts.  ‘I suspect that the numbers of people we encounter this Christmas will be up,’ said QHA’s director, Kate Mellor. She expects to see ‘more people telling us they’ve become homeless because they can’t afford to pay their rent’. She told the Friend that cuts to social housing are a particular problem. They have been exacerbated by funding cuts for charities supporting people in poverty. Kate described the situation as ‘heartbreaking’.