ALMOST 700 households with children in Bradford were at threat of homelessness in the past year, which was a rise on the 12 months before that.

There were 683 homes with young kids owed a prevention duty in the city throughout 2021-22, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show.

A prevention duty means the household has been threatened with homelessness and is eligible for local council support.

Bradford has seen an increase from 676 of homes with children at threat in 2020-21.

A further 184 households were owed a relief duty in the year to March, meaning they are already homeless and Bradford Council must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to secure accommodation for at least six months.

Homeless charity Crisis said the rise in families being forced from their homes across England is "deeply worrying".

Nationally, 56,340 households with children were owed a prevention duty in 2021-22 – up by 24 per cent on 45,590 the year before.

Similarly, the number of relief duties owed to households with children rose from 30,080 to 36,960.

The Government pledged in its 2019 manifesto to end homelessness by 2024.

Overall, the number of households owed a prevention duty rose from 119,400 in 2020-21 to 133,450 in 2020-21, while the number of relief duties fell from 149,160 to 144,670.

Kiran Ramchandani, director of policy and external affairs at Crisis, said: "The intense cost of living pressures and a severe lack of affordable housing mean many households with children will be forced into temporary accommodation and we know how damaging a long-term stay can be, especially for children and young people."

Ms Ramchandani urged the Government to increase housing benefits in the autumn budget and set out a clear plan to provide affordable homes.

She said: "Only this action can protect thousands more families from homelessness in the coming months.”

It is also vital for those fleeing domestic abuse cases to have a safe place to call home, according to Ms Ramchandani.

In Bradford, 78 domestic abuse cases led to prevention duties, while 48 relief duties were owed.

A DLUHC spokesperson said it is giving councils £316 million to "ensure families are not left without a roof over their heads".

They added: "Over half a million households have been prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation since 2018 through the Homelessness Reduction Act.”