Two struggling parents with a toddler have been left with no option but to sleep in their car with hardly any of their possessions amid the cost of living crisis. The family were found sleeping in a Kia vehicle on Friday night in Leeds by an organisation that supports vulnerable citizens, and were reportedly huddled together using clothes to maintain warmth.
The increasing cost of food, bills and mortgages has left many families struggling to get by and concerns are growing that the number of homeless families in the UK will be on the rise as a result. Vulnerable Citizen Support Leeds were called out to the helpless family after they received word of two adults sleeping in their car in the city, the Mirror reports.
When the team arrived to aid the situation, much to their surprise, they also discovered a toddler in the car with the couple. The family had "only a few bags of clothing and not much more", the support group said.
Vulnerable Citizen Support explained: "Once again we come across a situation that isn't a normal one we deal with. It's becoming more and more common as we go on."
The support unit found a hotel for the family at the weekend and is now looking at options to help them in the long term, such as paying a bond to get them into a home before the weather gets even colder. After the team shared an appeal on social media, a number of people offered the family a spare room.
A person said: "Such sad times we are living in. This should not be happening in this day and age." Another wrote: "Homelessness is going to start rising more, it's sad really sad."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family. You can donate here. This morning, Kwasi Kwarteng declined to stay whether benefits will be increased in line with inflation, as the Government U-turned on plans to cut the top rate of income tax for the highest earners.
The Chancellor said he is "not committed to any spending" during an interview on LBC radio. Failing to keep pace with rising prices would leave some of the poorest households facing a real-terms cut in their incomes.
It comes as the Government dramatically dropped its plans to abolish the 45 per cent rate on earnings over £150,000 following widespread criticism. Pressed on the issue of benefits uprating, Mr Kwarteng told LBC: "I'm not going to comment on spending today.
"What we are focused on is the growth plan, we have got a medium-term plan which will set out more spending policies in the near future."
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