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Millions of families stay cold for a roof
Parents swap heating and clothes for rent
MILLIONS of British parents are cutting back on heating and clothing just so they can afford their rent, a homelessness charity revealed yesterday.
A new study by Shelter and polling group YouGov found that over 2.5 million families in England are switching off the boiler to be able to pay rents and mortgages.
With evictions and homelessness looming over many of Britain’s poorest families, parents also admitted to having cut back on presents and food during the festive season.
Cambridge mother Michelle said her family had been living “hand to mouth” since her husband became self-employed.
She told Shelter: “We cut back on everything to pay the rent — including food.
“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.
“I try to hide it as much as I can from my youngest children but they know they can’t ask for treats and not to let anyone they don’t know into the house in case the bailiffs come round.
“I hate living like that. I recently went to the doctor because the stress of it all has made my asthma worse.”
The problem was not confined to parents alone.
Responding to an inquiry by the Star on how many readers had had to cut back on heating to pay the bills, university student Callum Cant said: “Genuinely, who hasn’t done this?!”
Shelter also added that over 100,000 people sought its advice on housing debt in 2015 alone, as one in 10 parents feared they would not be able to meet payments this January.
The charity’s helpline adviser Danielle Goodwin said: “It never gets easier to hear a parent on the phone in tears, and at breaking point from the weight of their spiralling housing payments.
“Every day at Shelter we hear from parents who face the bleak choice between missing their rent or cutting back on heating — even though their families have barely had a Christmas to celebrate.
“So many families are feeling the pinch and there’s no shame in asking for help, which is why Shelter is here 365 days a year.”
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