Charity Shelter’s comprehensive analysis of official figures reveals that 4,390 people in the city are experiencing homelessnessBristol records highest homeless rate in South West(Image: PA)

Thousands of people in Bristol will spend Christmas without a home this year as the city records the highest rate of homelessness in the South West.

Charity Shelter’s comprehensive analysis of official figures reveals that 4,390 people in the city are experiencing homelessness, equating to one in every 113 residents. Across the wider region, at least 14,341 people, including more than 6,000 children, face spending the festive season without a permanent home.

Stuart Francis-Dubois, strategic lead at Shelter, said: “It’s unthinkable that as winter sets in, over 14,000 people in the South West are homeless. Behind this inconceivable figure are over 6,000 children waking up on Christmas morning without the most basic need – somewhere safe and stable to call home.

“Our local support services are seeing shocking numbers of families stuck in damaging temporary accommodation for months or years on end.”

The research highlights a five per cent increase in homelessness across the region over the last year. While Bristol has the most acute problem, neighbouring areas are also affected. In South Gloucestershire, 205 people are recorded as homeless, while Bath and North East Somerset has 168 people without a home, and North Somerset has 94.

According to the charity, the shortage of social housing, rising private rents, and the freeze on housing benefit are the primary drivers trapping families in temporary accommodation. Conditions in these placements are often poor, with entire families sometimes cramming into single rooms with inadequate cooking or laundry facilities.

Mr Francis-Dubois said: “We urge the Government to help the families who are homeless right now by ending the freeze on housing benefit. This would immediately lift thousands of children out of temporary accommodation and into a home.

“While we campaign for change, our frontline services will continue providing direct support to those facing homelessness this winter and beyond. The public can join us in this fight by donating to our urgent appeal today.”

Households spend an average of nearly three years in temporary accommodation while attempting to access a stable home. Many are placed in bedsits miles away from schools, jobs, and support networks. For those not entitled to this support, options are limited to sofa-surfing or sleeping rough, with 527 people estimated to be on the streets in the South West on any given night.

Nationally, there are currently 382,618 homeless people, including 350,480 in temporary housing. The analysis indicates that until enough social homes are built, private renting remains the only escape route for many, yet it remains unaffordable due to the gap between frozen housing benefits and actual rental costs.