One in seven people more worried about becoming homeless due to Covid-19 pandemic

New Shelter survey also finds that private renters worst affected, with one in four fearing homelessness

One in seven people are more worried about becoming homeless due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research by Shelter.

Setting out the results of a YouGov poll of 3,603 people in England, Shelter also highlights that private renters have fared worst during the pandemic, with one in four of the 551 private tenants surveyed fearing homelessness - equating to 2.2 million people across England as a whole - and a quarter reporting that their income has decreased in the last six months.

In addition, Shelter says that in the last month -

• 24 per cent of private renters have had to borrow money to pay their rent;
• 18 per cent have cut back on food or skipped meals to pay their rent; and
• 12 per cent have cut back on heating their home to pay their rent.

Highlighting that these figures are reflected in data on calls to the charity's emergency helpline which shows that two thirds of calls were from people already homeless or at risk of homelessness, Shelter Chief Executive Polly Neate said today -

'Through our helpline we have seen just how scared people are about their homes and their futures. People’s lives are literally on the line. They are desperately struggling, and the threat of homelessness is very real.'

For more information, see Pandemic leaves six million people more afraid of becoming homeless from shelter.org.uk