Scores face losing homes every day in SW

Every day, 36 households in the South West are at risk of losing their home, new analysis from Shelter reveals.

The research, based on data recorded by the Ministry of Justice found that in the past year more than 13,200 homes in the South West are at risk of eviction or repossession, the equivalent of 36 every day. 

It also identified the latest hotspots across the region where people are most likely to face losing their home, with Weymouth and Portland and Gloucester topping the list. Other hotspots in the region’s top ten included Bristol, Bournemouth and Plymouth.

The housing and homelessness charity is warning that sky high housing costs are pushing more and more families in the South West to the brink.  With finances stretched to bursting point, just one thing, such as an illness or job loss, can be all it takes to leave a family facing losing their home. 

Shelter is currently struggling to meet demand for its services and is calling for support so that it can help more people stay in their homes.  Since 2011, across the country the charity has seen the number of callers struggling with rent arrears more than double, while those calling about mortgage arrears rose by nearly a fifth. 

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “36 households at risk of losing their home every day is 36 too many.  Each one of these will have had their lives turned upside down by this experience, as they faced seeing their home, the foundation of their life, ripped away from underneath them. 

“Tragically we are seeing more and more people coming to us for help, people who have been struggling to make ends meet and then just one change of circumstances has pushed them spiralling towards homelessness.  We urgently need people’s support so we can help more people in the South West avoid the nightmare of losing their home.”