ALMOST 100 families in Barnsley were threatened will homelessness at the start of this year, new figures have revealed.

Homelessness charity Shelter said the time for ‘empty words’ on housebuilding was long passed and called on the Government to act.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 154 households in Barnsley were estimated to be homeless and were owed a relief duty, which requires housing authorities to help them secure accommodation.

There were no figures provided for last year.

There were also 94 households threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty, 18 of whom faced losing their home after receiving a Section 21 notice to end an assured shorthold tenancy.

There were 17 single parents and ten couples with dependent children homeless in Barnsley between January and March.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “With record numbers of people becoming homeless, the time for empty words on building social homes and overdue promises on ending no fault evictions has long passed.

“No-fault evictions are fuelling homelessness and throwing thousands of families’ lives into turmoil.”

In Barnsley, 1.4 per 100,000 people were estimated to be homeless - the national average currently stands at 1.8 people.