THE homeless charity Shelter estimates that more than 22,000 children living in privately rented homes in the West Midlands are at risk of being evicted this winter.
The extensive polling which was carried for the charity by YouGov found that 11,600 private renting families in the region had received an eviction notice in the last month or are currently behind on their rent – putting them in real danger of losing their home.
In response Shelter is calling on the public to support its frontline advisers who are working to help as many families as possible to find, or keep hold of, a safe home.
From the same polling, Shelter estimates that 16,000 children in the West Midlands, along with their families, have already been evicted or removed from their homes in the last three months.
With the eviction ban now over and the £65million fund for rent arrears not enough to reach everyone struggling, the charity is concerned even more eviction notices will start rolling in as living costs rise and debts mount for many.
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: “No child should have to worry about losing their home this Christmas, let alone 22,000.
“But so many families in the West Midlands will spend every day with the threat of eviction looming over them, not knowing if they will still have a home next year.
“Eviction notices have started dropping on doormats and our services are working round the clock to help families who have nowhere else to go.
“Like it has before – the government needs to intervene to keep people safe in their homes. We urgently need more support for renters to protect them from eviction this winter.”
To help Shelter in its work to prevent more children being tipped into homelessness, visit shelter.org.uk/donate.
