Campaigners warn of 'wave of homelessness' when eviction ban ends

Image: ICN/JS

The number of homeless people on our streets could rise dramatically from next Monday - when the government's ban on evictions, introduced at the start of the Covid lockdown, is due to be lifted. Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair of Justice and Peace for Westminster Diocese warned today that unless the government ban is extended, those working with the homeless on our streets will find themselves 'overwhelmed.'

Emergency legislation to suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation was introduced in March. But the ban is to end on 23 August, putting tenants who have fallen behind on their rent at risk. Under current legislation, anyone who accrues rent arrears of eight weeks or more can be automatically evicted.

Housing charity Shelter, says that approximately three per cent of private renters in London, some 227,000 people, have fallen into arrears during the coronavirus pandemic. Unless the government acts to protect renters thrown into financial difficulty by Covid-19, Shelter says judges will be powerless to stop them from losing their homes once the ban lifts.

Shelter's chief executive, Polly Neate said: "The Housing Secretary promised no-one would lose their home because of coronavirus. But the financial chaos of Covid-19 means that many private renters are in danger of being evicted when the current ban lifts. Unless he acts now, he will break his promise, and put thousands of renters at risk of homelessness. That's more than the entire population of Portsmouth at risk of losing their homes. And let's not forget: this pandemic is not over. "

Fr Dominic Robinson told ICN: "The proposed ending of this ban on evictions in a few days' time will force the homeless issue in London to breaking point. It must be reviewed urgently. Our volunteers at Central London Catholic Churches Homeless Service are still seeing more and more new homeless on the streets. Unless the ban on evictions is extended many more will find themselves on the streets and end up being served by charities, faith groups and local authorities whose capacity to look after them will be overwhelmed.

"We really hope that the cross party support for the eviction ban to be extended, will be heeded, for the sake of all concerned and especially the many newly-destitute, at a time of ongoing public health crisis.

"At this time of still great upheaval and uncertainty we need to put aside political views and recognise the innate dignity of each human being who has a right to be treated as such with compassion and respect rather than be treated as a forgotten unwanted number as they are forced to try to survive on the streets."