Southend's housing chief has today sent out a plea for people with empty properties to consider renting them to the council as the town's homeless problem hits crisis point.
Gwen Horrigan, executive councillor for housing, said the borough had a dire shortage of three and four-bedroom homes to accommodate families from across a spectrum of income brackets who cannot find anywhere affordable to live.
Mrs Horrigan called for empty properties to be brought to the council's attention.
She said: "We want to hear about these properties to see if landlords are willing to rent them to us. If we take on a house and it is subsequently vacated we will ensure that the property is left in a proper condition. Anybody who wants to let their house should get in touch with us urgently."
Viv Roffe, manager of homeless centre, the Harp Day Service in Valkyrie Road, said she is seeing more and more working people who can't afford high rents and mortgages.
She said: "We are very concerned because the situation is now quite grave and something has to be done."
Published Monday October 28, 2002
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