A shocking new report today reveals that 16,100 people are homeless in the West Midlands. For the very first time, housing charity Shelter has revealed the true scale of homelessness in the area by analysing a combination of the most up-to-date government statistics, freedom of information requests, and other published homelessness data.
To mark Shelter’s founding 50 years ago today, the research is inspired by the charity’s original ‘Green Book’ – the report that launched the charity in 1966 and exposed the grim reality of life for homeless families at the time. Sadly, the modern-day study also paints a bleak and desperate picture of a 21st century housing crisis affecting families across the nation.
The new Green Book also identified the West Midlands’ top 20 ‘homelessness hotspots’ where people are most likely to lose the battle to stay in their homes. Birmingham topped the list with 1 in 119 people living without a home. This was followed by Coventry (1 in 204), Solihull (1 in 444) and Walsall (1 in 487).
Shelter Birmingham Hub manager, Vicky Hines, said: “Shelter’s founding shone a light on hidden homelessness in the sixties slums. But while those troubled times have faded into memory, fifty years on a modern day housing crisis is tightening its grip on our country.
“Thousands of people in the West Midlands will face the trauma of waking up homeless this Christmas. Decades in the making, this is the tragic result of a nation struggling under the weight of sky-high rents, a lack of affordable homes, and cuts to welfare support.
“We all face the consequences when so many grow up without a place to call home. It breaks up communities and wreaks havoc on family life. For the sake of future generations we must pull together to end this crisis, and refuse to rest until every child has a place to call home.”
Shelter’s co-founder Des Wilson said: “It would be pleasing if Shelter were able to take time to celebrate its 50th year, but, as this report shows, it is too aware of what still has to be done. I hope the country will respond to its urgent rallying call with the same combination of anger and compassion with which it supported our work all those years ago.”
