AN East Lancashire charity says the issue of homelessness will only get worse in the county as locals continue to feel the impact of the cost of living crisis.

This comes after new figures released by the Department of Levelling up, Housing and Communities found 631 households in East Lancashire were either threatened with homelessness or became homeless between October and December 2021.

According to the data, Blackburn with Darwen saw the highest figures (251) for East Lancashire followed by Burnley (148).

Rossendale (98), Pendle (64), Hyndburn (51) and Ribble Valley (19) data also featured in the new release.

According to the same data, those aged 25-34 are most likely to become homeless in East Lancashire with 205 reports made between October and December 2021.

19 people included in the data were above state pension age (65-75).

Pastor Mick Fleming runs Burnley-based Church on The Street Ministries (COTSM), a charity which helps people affected by homelessness and addiction, set up around four years ago.

Lancashire Telegraph: Pastor Mick Fleming Pastor Mick Fleming

He says he has noticed a significant increase in homeless people coming to the charity for help in recent months.

Mick warned things will only get worse if the cost of living continues to rise.

He said: “The consequences of the cost of living hike is starting to kick in now and it will only get worse.

“Locally, I have noticed the amount of homeless people coming to us for help has almost doubled.

“They’re struggling to afford their rent because food and gas and electric is getting dearer – so they are getting evicted.

“We’ve also noticed people with mental health problems and learning difficulties aren’t being supported by the system so they are being left on the street too.”

As a charity, they are also finding it harder to get hold of supplies and give local people the resources they need to survive.

He warned this is only the beginning and expects homelessness levels to only get worse.

He said: “This is just the beginning and I think things will get horrendous. We haven’t even touched the edge yet – you wait until next winter.

“I can see homelessness figures increasing ten-fold in two to three years if things don’t improve.”

Figures from October-December 2021 suggest 25-34 year olds make up the majority of homeless people in Burnley.

However, Pastor Mick said there has been a shift recently and the charity is seeing more pensioners and struggling families coming through their door.

He said: “It was largely individuals from the addicted community coming through our doors but it’s not like that anymore.

"It’s families with children, single parents and old age pensioners now.

“Society used to look after the pensioners quite well but now that’s not the case. It’s quite scary.

“It’s creating a poverty mentality in children as they are growing up. We are seeing 11-year-old kids refusing food as they want to feed their younger siblings.

“We also have working families who come here to access food.”

Mick added the only way out of poverty is through education and community, something that is offered at COTSM.

Mick said: “The only way out of poverty is to build a community and pull together.

“We don’t want people to stay stuck and relying on food parcels we want them to get educated and escape from their situation.”

Emma Garner, Strategic Lead for Shelter Lancashire, which has a site in Blackburn, said: “High housing costs are at the core of the cost-of-living crisis. Private rents are higher than ever, bills are skyrocketing, and welfare support is lagging dangerously behind. 

“The number of private renters claiming housing benefit in the North West is up by a quarter compared to before the pandemic. With housing benefit frozen at 2020 levels, people are forced to make up the shortfall from overstretched incomes. Our frontline services in Lancashire hear from people every day who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads as a result.  

“To help prevent a rise in homelessness, the government must end the freeze on housing benefit, to help people pay their rent. But the only lasting solution is to invest in good quality social homes in Lancashire and across the country with genuinely affordable rents that are pegged to local incomes.” 

Lancashire County Council has been approached for comment.

The Lancashire Telegraph has launched Your Money Matters - our campaign to help you overcome the surge in the cost of living.

That’s why in the coming weeks we will shine a light on those affected most by increased costs, both in Lancashire and across the UK.

Watch out for the hashtag #yourmoneymatters on social media over the coming days and weeks to see more of how we can help you and your family through this difficult time.