• The number of homeless families accommodated in council bed and breakfast establishments has risen by 44% over the last year
• This figure neared 50% for London, as local council spending fell by over £14m from £214m to just under £200m with a huge lack of new builds up and government initiative
• The Estate Agency Foundation (EAF) allows the Industry to give back and help the homeless through charities like Shelter and St.Mungo's
The Estate Agency Foundation (EAF) pioneered a momentous effort to raise £100,000 this summer for the homeless by inviting agents to cycle 2,012 miles in 32 days in the Zoopla Great British Property Ride. It has been a huge success, totalling so far an astonishing £70,000, but more is needed. The industry hopes for all estate agents to pledge support for the UK homeless epidemic and donate.
During the first quarter of 2011, homeless households increased by 18%, but new stats reveal that this figure has actually risen by a quarter in the last year. Families and individuals classed as homeless in England reached 50,290, compared to 40,020 in the previous 12 months.
In the same period, local council spending fell by over £14m from £214m to just under £200m. The main causes of the rise in numbers have been identified as cuts in housing benefit, together with the recent consistent lack of new build properties.
Independent estate agents have always been deeply integrated into their communities, quietly raising enormous sums for good causes, where until now; they have remained relatively anonymous about their contributions. The EAF gives agents an opportunity to accelerate their efforts and also generate positive publicity for a fantastic cause.
A trio of industry leaders took this even further, cycling across the UK coastline an average of 82 miles per day. Jon Cooke, Sean Newman and Sam Lindley pit stopped at hundreds of offices giving the cyclists an opportunity to bring together the whole Estate Agency industry to contribute to this major social issue faced by all communities in the UK.
Any agent can take part by donating £100 to become an EAF Ambassador or raising the money through charitable community events. The trio endured injury and torrential English downpours to reach the finish line in Exeter on August the 29th with a host of colleagues from all over the UK. With the continuation of Estate Agency industry support, this figure can hopefully increase. The three charities that the EAF are supporting this year are Shelter, Broadway and St.Mungo's.
