Homelessness on the rise as recession and cuts bite, By Patrick Butler, June 10, 2011, The Guardian: “Homelessness is rising dramatically for the first time in years in the UK as the effects of the recession are felt, with recent increases in some areas of more than 50% in the numbers of people declaring themselves in need of housing, government figures find. The government data show that 26,400 people approached a local council for housing help in the first three months of 2011, a rise of 23% compared with the same period last year. Less than half of these applications were successful, triggering warnings of growing numbers of ‘hidden’ homeless – people forced to squat or sleep on friends’ sofas after not qualifying for official help…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty