The number of people saying they are homeless in the Great Yarmouth area has soared by more than 60pc, a council has revealed.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council says that from April to September there were 741 homeless presentations to the authority's housing team.

Over the same period in 2021 there were 495 presentations.

It is predicted that for the 2022/23 financial year the number of presentations for help will be 1,674.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council also predicts more than 1,840 presentations will be made in 2023/24 to its housing team- an average of 153 requests for help a month.

The council says the predicted rise is down to the cost of living crisis and fewer private landlords and rented properties in the borough.

The stark figures are to be discussed at a meeting of the council's housing and neighbourhoods committee on Thursday, November 11, which will be asked to approve the acquisition of six two-bedroom flats as temporary accommodation to help meet the demand from people made or about to be made homeless.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The meeting will be held at town hallThe meeting will be held at town hall (Image: Newsquest)

A report to the committee said: "The number of homelessness prevention and relief duties accepted this year is consistently higher than the last two years. 

"This reflects an increase in homelessness presentations this year in comparison to previous years, with an average 62pc increase in the number of presentations this year over the period from April to September on the presentations in 2020/21.

"Predicting the number of homelessness presentations in 2023/4 is harder, but reflecting
the current cost of living crisis and a continued departure of private rented sector landlords, it is expected there could be at least an additional 10pc increase on homelessness presentations on this year – totaling 1,842 or an average of 153 per month."

To meet the need to provide temporary accommodation, the borough council has a portfolio of 20 properties and 14 leased properties. 

The council’s housing stock provides a pool of additional properties which are used, with 27
properties in use as of November 1. 

The council can also call on bed and breakfasts and holiday site accommodation to help meet demand.