HOMELESSNESS in Wyre Forest has risen by 104 per cent in the last two years, figures have revealed.

A total of 141 households were accepted as homeless in the district in 2011/12 compared to 69 in 2009/10, according to a report by the National Housing Federation.

The organisation said thousands of people across the West Midlands were struggling for a home they could afford as the region faces a shortage of new housing.

Across Worcestershire there were 21,131 households on waiting lists in 2011 - up 123 per cent since 2001.

Gemma Duggan, West Midlands lead manager for the National Housing Federation, said: “We’re only building half the homes we need in the West Midlands and the shortfall is having a huge impact on people from all walks of life and Herefordshire and Worcestershire are no exception.

“With high house prices and rising rents, we now face the very real possibility that an entire generation will be priced out of being able to rent a home, let alone able to buy one.”

She added the numbers of people waiting for a social home had grown “massively across the West Midlands over the past decade”.

The federation is launching a new campaign called Yes to Homes, to give local people the chance to show councillors and politicians that new homes matter. People can find out more at www.yestohomes.co.uk.