The Liberal Democrats in Milton Keynes have urged the Government to extend the eviction ban as official figures reveal that 171 families in private rented accommodation were deemed at risk of homelessness earlier this year.
It comes as Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran and Chair of the All-Party Group on Coronavirus warned that Ministers must act now to “stop a devastating surge in homelessness sweeping across the country as we face a potential second wave.”
According to official statistics, 304 households in Milton Keynes are assessed as being threatened with homelessness, with another 305 assessed as homeless from January to March 2020.
150 of households who were homeless or threatened with homelessness cited the end of a private rented tenancy as the reason for losing their last settled home.
Cllr Jenni Ferrans, Chair of MK Council’s Community and Housing Committee, said: “Families in Milton Keynes must be protected from homelessness. The Council is already struggling to house the nearly 900 homeless families we have."
"There is simply nowhere to put a massive new influx. But it seems that the Conservatives are happy to leave people to fend for themselves at a time when jobs are at risk and people are struggling."
“People deserve better. These figures are yet further proof the Government must rethink its heartless decision to resume evictions from 23 August."
“171 families in the private rented sector were already being threatened with homelessness earlier this year. There will be more by now. And now they face losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic."
“Ministers must act now to stop a devastating surge in homelessness sweeping across the country as we face a potential second wave.”
