354,000 people homeless this Xmas

Evictions, rising rents and housing shortage blamed

- SIMON MURPHY

AT least 354,000 people are likely to be homeless this Christmas, a charity warns.

Shelter's estimated figure marks a 14% jump from last year and is enough to fill Wembley Stadium almost four times. It includes 161,495 children.

The charity blames factors such as record rents, rising evictions and a lack of affordable social housing.

The figure is based on Shelter's estimates, including from late June when it believes 322,910 people were homeless and staying in temporary accommodation arranged by the council.

The analysis includes 3,898 people sleeping on the streets on any given night and an estimated 16,648 single people who are living in hostels.