Reacting to the Government’s ‘fiscal event’ Rebecca Sycamore, Interim Chief Executive of leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s said: “We know that many of our clients who are living independently are desperately struggling to make ends meet. They, and many thousands of others of people, need immediate help.

“And while the Government has introduced some support measures, including capping the rise on the cost of fuel, these will only have a limited impact; and we are still very concerned.

“This week the independent Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping made a set of urgent recommendations which would help those who are increasingly at risk of homelessness – such as a ban on evictions, and increasing benefits and local housing allowances.

“We all want the financial situation improve, but we need urgent action to prevent the economic crisis developing into a homelessness crisis.”