A HOMELESS charity is urging people who are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage this Christmas to seek advice.

Shelter is encouraging residents to ask for help sooner rather than later after new figures show the number of homeless people in South Gloucestershire has risen.

Statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government, show that 64 households were accepted as homeless by South Gloucestershire Council between July and September 2010. The figure is almost double than in the previous quarter.

The number of homeless acceptances across the whole of England is also on the rise, up 17 per cent to 11,840 and is the first sustained increase since 2003.

The figures also show that 104 homeless households in South Gloucestershire will be spending Christmas in temporary accommodation, with 33 in temporary housing association homes and 11 in bed and breakfasts. There are three people currently living in hostels, 19 in accommodation leased privately by the council and 38 with private landlords.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: "Already in Britain every two minutes someone faces the nightmare of losing their home, so it’s really worrying to see homelessness is on the rise in South Gloucestershire. "We know from the cases we see every day that just one single thing, like a bout of illness, rent increase or drop in income, is all that’s needed to push people into a spiral of debt and arrears that can lead to the loss of their home."

He added: "At a time of year when many people are taking on extra debt, Shelter is urging anyone struggling with their housing costs to urgently seek advice.

"Shelter’s free housing helpline is there to help when things start to spiral out of control."

To contact Shelter call the free helpline on 0808 800 4444 or visit www.shelter.org.uk.