THE number of York residents contacting the city council fearing they are to be made homeless has risen by 30 per cent in the past year.

City of York Council said it was working hard to alleviate serious housing problems just as a national report published this week painted a bleak future, with more middle-class families losing the roof over their heads.

The council revealed a slight rise in the number of homeless people in the city – from 35 to 37 – from the first quarter of last year to the same period this year.

It also revealed the number of people allocated emergency temporary accommodation rose from 89 to 93 in the same period.

A spokesman for the council said: “The number of people approaching the Housing Options Service has increased over last 12 months by approximately 30 per cent.

“Staff are working hard to resolve the housing problems, help people keep their current home, including through negotiations with landlords, mortgage companies, offering support and debt advice, or move into alternative accommodation in a planned way.

“This may include private rented, social housing or low-cost owner occupation.”

This week the results of a national report, carried out by University of York in conjunction with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, concluded that more middle-class families could end up homeless in the face of Government spending cuts and the economic downturn.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, the charity which commissioned the report, said: “Homelessness in both its visible and hidden forms is already rising and, as the economic downturn causes further increases in unemployment and pressure on households’ finances it is likely to continue to rise.”

City of York Council admitted there was concern over planned welfare benefit changes but said at the moment there was no significant impact on the city.

A spokesman said: “It’s important that people approach advice agencies as soon as possible if they have a housing problem and always attend court if there is a possession hearing.”