Almost four million families are living on a ‘knife edge' toward homelessness
- 15 Apr
Research suggests that almost four million families across the UK are one paycheque away from being unable to afford their rent or mortgage.
Homelessness charity Shelter has carried out an investigation by surveying 7,500 rent and mortgage payers and found that 44% of those questioned (the equivalent of 3.8million families) were one paycheque away from being unable to pay their rent or mortgage, due to little or no savings to fall back on.
The findings were based on YouGov survey which was carried out at the end of March. Shelter says that families are living on a "knife edge", reports Inside Housing.
29% of those surveyed, which is the equivalent of 2.4 million families, would be unable to pay their next rent or mortgage payment if they lost their job and was unable to get alternative employment immediately.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: "No matter how hard ordinary families' work, in today's ‘knife-edge nation' any drop in income can all too quickly put their home at serious risk. If you lose your job finding another one is hard enough, but without a stable place to live it's almost impossible. The government must make sure the safety net is strong enough to stop families falling through the gaps, and going through the tragedy of losing their homes."
Liz Clare, a Shelter helpline advisor, said: "This research highlights how millions of us now find ourselves living on a financial knife-edge - month to month, paycheque to paycheque. Every day we see how just one piece of bad luck, like a sudden job loss or illness, could put the family home at risk."
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