Housing Crisis is Hurting In Hayes and Harlington

From what I am seeing in my advice surgeries and people contacting my office in Hayes, the housing crisis is really hurting local families as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The housing charity Shelter sent me the following information, which does reflect what is happening locally.

Shelter says “One million people have taken out a payday loan to help pay their rent or mortgage in the last 12 months, according to survey findings released by Shelter today. The astonishing results reveal the spiral of debt that people are falling into in order to keep a roof over their head. Shelter has a network of debt advice services across the country, which we encourage you to promote to your constituents. Our online advice is available at http://www.shelter.org.uk/debt and the free telephone helpline number is 0808 800 4444. The survey also reveals that almost seven million people are relying on credit in some form to help pay their housing costs; using payday loans, unauthorised overdrafts, other loans or credit cards. For many the New Year brings with it the risk of homelessness and we are urging anyone worried about their debts to make seeking early debt advice their New Year’s resolution.Please help us reach as many people at risk as we can by promoting our services in your surgeries and on your website.”

I advise anyone struggling to pay their rent or mortgage to contact Shelter’s helpline or the local Citizens Advice Bureau, which is in Hayes town centre.

submitted by John on 04 Jan 2012 at 15:26