Homeless families lobby Gordon Brown

Homeless families are delivering a 60,000 name petition to the Chancellor today as part of a charity campaign to tackle Britain’s housing “crisis.”

Homelessness charity Shelter has organised the petition in advance of the publication of the Chancellor’s pre-budget report on 5 December, which will set out the government’s financial priorities for the forthcoming year.

Shelter’s campaign is calling for funding for 60,000 more social rented homes each year between 2008-2011.

Around 98,000 children lived in homeless households in England during 2004 to April this year, according to official figures.

Shelter believes that unless extra funds are found, around 270 children will face homelessness each day over the next year.

Adam Sampson, director of Shelter, said: “At a time of record homelessness and chronic overcrowding, our public petition shows the scale of public outrage at Britain’s housing crisis.

“This is Gordon Brown’s chance to show he wants to end the despair of homeless and badly housed children and give them the chance of a brighter future.”

www.shelter.org.uk