THE rising cost of bills coupled with £360 million of rent arrears accrued during the Covid-19 pandemic are on the verge of causing mass homelessness, the Big Issue has warned. 

The campaigning magazine said that the toxic mix could force Tory ministers to spend more than £2.6 billion on keeping people off the streets this winter as inflation bites and energy prices climb.

The government spends £9,266 for every person made homeless, whereas the price of early intervention is just £2,263 per person, the Big Issue said.