A LEADING borough councillor has welcomed government intervention at a time when it has been announced more than 1,000 people in Thurrock will spend Christmas without a permanent home.

Housing charity Shelter suggests 354,000 people in England are homeless, a 14 per cent jump from this time last year.

In Thurrock, Shelter estimates 1,387 people will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation this Christmas, including 747 children. The figures analysed by Shelter from a Homelessness in England report also show six people in the borough are likely to be living on the streets with no shelter.

It means one in 127 people in the area are homeless according to a snapshot of the number of people recorded as homeless on a given night in 2024. The charity blamed "extortionate private rents" and a "dire lack of genuinely affordable" social homes.

Shelter's figures were released 24 hours after Thurrock Council welcomed extra cash to deal with rising numbers of homeless people in the borough.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News the government announced Thurrock Council will receive an additional 39 per cent funding to prevent homelessness and tackle rough sleeping – bringing the total funding the council will receive up to £1,941 million in 25/26.

Housing portfolio holder Cllr Mark Hooper had told Nub News: "The level of homelessness in Thurrock – and across our country – is a disgrace, and it high time we had a government determined to stamp it out.

"Here in Thurrock, we have seen homelessness rise by over a fifth in the last year and, nationally, we have 123,000 households living in temporary accommodation, including almost 160,000 children.

"This funding will help Thurrock council support families at risk of homelessness and give us extra resources to prevent rough sleeping too."

Cllr Hooper added: "On top of this, I am pleased Labour is banning no fault evictions, putting £500 million in new funding for the Affordable Homes Programme – helping deliver 5,000 new social homes – and allowing councils to keep 100 per cent of receipts from all Right to Buy sales, enabling us to build more social housing for Thurrock families.

"Everyone understands turning Thurrock around will take time – but announcements like today's are a clear sign that the work of change has well and truly begun."

Shelter chief executive, Polly Neate, said: "As the country prepares to wind down and celebrate the festive season in our homes, it's unimaginable that 354,000 will spend this winter homeless – many of them forced to shiver on the wet streets or in a mouldy hostel room with their entire family."

The build-up to Christmas saw a gathering of volunteers and supporters of the borough-based charity Friends of Essex and London Hmeless on Friday.

The charity's founder, Steve Stuart, dressed up a panto dame to help to deliver supplies to needy people, including families and young children at the regular Friday meeting at Grays Baptist Church on Orsett Road.

Among the vital food supplies given out there were also gifts for the children.

This year's Thurrock panto, Snow White, being staged at the Thameside Theatre, is supporting the chairity - with Steve appearing on stage at opening night.