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| Families skimp on heat to meet housing costs, says Shelter | Families skimp on heat to meet housing costs, says Shelter |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| High rents and mortgages in England mean too many families are skimping on heating and winter clothes to make ends meet, says housing charity Shelter. | High rents and mortgages in England mean too many families are skimping on heating and winter clothes to make ends meet, says housing charity Shelter. |
| More than a quarter (27%) of 853 parents of under-18s said they had cut winter spending to meet housing costs. | More than a quarter (27%) of 853 parents of under-18s said they had cut winter spending to meet housing costs. |
| And 10% told researchers they feared being unable to pay rents or mortgages in January. | And 10% told researchers they feared being unable to pay rents or mortgages in January. |
| The government said its work to tackle the deficit was helping more people stay in their homes. | The government said its work to tackle the deficit was helping more people stay in their homes. |
| A shortage of affordable homes has left families struggling with sky-high housing costs, says the charity, while last year more than 100,000 people phoned its helpline for housing debt advice. | A shortage of affordable homes has left families struggling with sky-high housing costs, says the charity, while last year more than 100,000 people phoned its helpline for housing debt advice. |
| Families struggling with housing costs are advised to: | Families struggling with housing costs are advised to: |
| "We cut back on everything to pay the rent, including food," said Michelle, a mother from Cambridge. | "We cut back on everything to pay the rent, including food," said Michelle, a mother from Cambridge. |
| Her husband Kevin, a builder, became self-employed last year and is now paid weekly. | Her husband Kevin, a builder, became self-employed last year and is now paid weekly. |
| The change in circumstances means the family are already in arrears on their rent to a private landlord and council tax. | The change in circumstances means the family are already in arrears on their rent to a private landlord and council tax. |
| They fear missing more payments could put them at risk of eviction. | They fear missing more payments could put them at risk of eviction. |
| Some 15% of the parents interviewed also said they had to economise on Christmas food and gifts. | Some 15% of the parents interviewed also said they had to economise on Christmas food and gifts. |
| "Even though my husband works as many hours as he can, it's constantly hand to mouth," said Michelle, a student midwife. | "Even though my husband works as many hours as he can, it's constantly hand to mouth," said Michelle, a student midwife. |
| "When the children are at school, the heating isn't on at all, and over Christmas we had to cut back on presents and clothing," she added. | "When the children are at school, the heating isn't on at all, and over Christmas we had to cut back on presents and clothing," she added. |
| 'Hard-earned homes' | 'Hard-earned homes' |
| A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The reality is mortgage repossession claims continue to fall and are their lowest since 1987. | A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The reality is mortgage repossession claims continue to fall and are their lowest since 1987. |
| "This is thanks to our work to tackle the deficit and keep interest rates low, helping more families to stay in their hard-earned homes. | "This is thanks to our work to tackle the deficit and keep interest rates low, helping more families to stay in their hard-earned homes. |
| "We've introduced measures to ensure tenants get a fair deal and are aware of their rights. We've also doubled the housing budget to deliver over 400,000 affordable homes and the number of new homes is up 25% in the last year." | "We've introduced measures to ensure tenants get a fair deal and are aware of their rights. We've also doubled the housing budget to deliver over 400,000 affordable homes and the number of new homes is up 25% in the last year." |
| The survey of a representative and weighted sample of adults was carried out online by YouGov late last year. | The survey of a representative and weighted sample of adults was carried out online by YouGov late last year. |