Teresa Pearce, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, commenting on figures from the Department for Communities & Local Government, showing that homelessness in England has risen to the highest level in ten years, said:

“These figures cannot come to as a surprise to MPs and councillors up and down the country who are dealing with increased housing case-loads every week. Shocking those these figures are they understate the true picture with many thousands hidden from view, sofa surfing, staying with friends or living in their cars.

The most common cause of homelessness is the ending of a private rented tenancy, that is why Labour is committed to making three year tenancies the norm.”