NEW analysis from Shelter has found a 142 per cent increase in the number of homeless children in the West Midlands in the last five years.
The charity warns the impact of the housing crisis will be felt across a generation as one in every 226 children in the area is now homeless.
The leading homelessness charity estimates morre than 5,600 children in the West Midlands will wake up Christmas morning without a permanent home, an increase of 30 per cent more than last year.
Of these over 1,300 will spend their Christmas in a hostel or bead and breakfast.
The charity is calling on the public to support its Christmas appeal – to give families the vital helpline advice and services they need in order to keep their homes over the festive period.
To support them visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70020 to donate £3.