One in 157 households in South Holland are at risk of losing their homes, new figures reveal.
Research by homeless charity Shelter ranks the district at the 19th highest risk area in the East Midlands for eviction or repossession, with 237 households facing eviction or homelessness.
Across the region, the figures mean the equivalent of 97 people are at risk every single day and more than 800 children will wake up homeless this Christmas.
The charity is warning that sky-high housing costs are leaving more and more families teetering on a financial knife-edge.
With little or no savings to fall back on, just one thing – like a sudden illness – can be all it takes to tip a family into a downward spiral towards losing their home.
Shelter has launched an emergency appeal to raise money to help families faced with the trauma of losing their homes.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Imagine the panic of receiving a notice through the door saying that you could lose your home – that’s the devastating reality for thousands of people every week.
“The sky high cost of housing is making it harder and harder for families to keep a roof over their heads. And with the stakes so high, all it can take is one piece of bad luck to send a family spiralling towards homelessness.
“Our advisers will be working non-stop this Christmas to support families who find themselves battling to keep their home – but our services are already over-stretched and we’re struggling to meet the demand.
“We desperately need more support from the public to help us make sure no-one is left to fight homelessness on their own this Christmas.”
