A CHARITY estimates that over 25,000 children living in privately rented homes in Yorkshire and the Humber are at risk of being evicted this winter.

The extensive polling which was carried for the charity Shelter by YouGov found that 13,000 private renting families in the region had received an eviction notice in the last month or are currently behind on their rent – putting them in real danger of losing their home.

From the same polling, Shelter estimates that almost 1,300 children in Yorkshire and the Humber, along with their families, have already been evicted or removed from their homes in the last three months.

With the eviction ban now over and the £65 million fund for rent arrears not enough to reach everyone struggling, the charity is concerned even more eviction notices will start rolling in as living costs rise and debts mount for many.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “No child should have to worry about losing their home this Christmas, let alone 25,000. But so many families in Yorkshire and the Humber will spend every day with the threat of eviction looming over them, not knowing if they will still have a home next year."

To help Shelter, visit shelter.org.uk/donate.