Campaigning charity Shelter says new official figures show evictions since the lifting of the ban have created a surge in homelessness.

Shelter says figures for April to June this year – including the first month after the eviction ban was eventually lifted – show that, in the charity’s words, “91 families became homeless each day as lockdown restrictions lifted. “

It adds that since the start of the pandemic “a total of 183,290 households have been tipped into homelessness” with over 20,000 families approaching their local councils between April and June. 

Some 16,210  homeless households were placed into emergency B&Bs and hostels.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “Since the pandemic erupted, more than 180,000 households have been thrown into homelessness and a desperately uncertain future.

“With 91 families becoming homeless every single day, the Chancellor missed a vital opportunity to deal with the biggest bill people face – their rent. 

“The government’s failure to invest in truly affordable social homes means far too many children will have to call a grimy hostel room ‘home’ for the foreseeable future.

“While the government’s benefits support for people in work will provide a vital lifeline for some, it won’t help everyone in need. The months ahead are going to be very hard with soaring food and energy prices on top of extortionate and rising rents. If struggling families are to stand a chance at recovery, the government has to build decent social homes - it is the only solution to homelessness that will last.”

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