MP’s warning over cash-strapped families

THOUSANDS of families are just one pay cheque away from losing their home, according to MP John Healey.

The former housing minister is backing a campaign by charity Shelter warning how easy it is for one thing — like losing a job, or falling ill — to tip ordinary families into a spiral that can result in homelessness.

New figures from Shelter show one in three working people in Yorkshire — more than 200,000 — have little or no savings to fall back on and could not pay their rent or mortgage for more than a month if they lost their job.

A quarter said they would be unable to afford their home immediately if they lost their income.

Wentworth and Dearne MP Mr Healey said: “Thousands of Yorkshire families are living on a financial knife-edge, living month to month.

“Just one piece of bad luck could put the family home at risk.

“Wages in South Yorkshire have dropped £3,000 since 2010 and with high housing costs people are finding it impossible to save.

“The Government needs to do more to help and should make affordable housing a priority.”

Mr Healey is supporting Shelter’s calls for the Government to stop further cuts to the housing “safety net”, make sure there is help so families do not lose their home while they get back on their feet and fix the root causes of our housing crisis by building more affordable homes.

Anyone who is worried about losing their home can contact Shelter for free, independent advice, on 0808 8004444 or at www.shelter.org.uk/advice.