A MASSIVE six million families are suffering stress or depression due to today’s sky-high housing costs, a new report by housing charity Shelter shows.

The report, Breaking Point, also highlights the desperate sacrifices people are making to keep a roof over their heads, including spending less on food, selling possessions, borrowing from friends and family, and depriving their children of treats.

The report, based on a YouGov survey of 6,799 adults in Great Britain, set out to discover what affect Britain's chronic shortage of affordable homes to buy and rent is having on ordinary people. And the findings are shocking.

• Six million (almost one in four) households are suffering stress or depression because of their housing costs
• Two million say meeting housing costs is a constant struggle, with 400,000 falling behind with rent or mortgage payments
• 6.3 million (one in four) are spending less on food
• Three million (one in nine) have sold possessions
• 2.8 million (11%) have been forced to borrow money to meet their housing costs in the last 12 months
• One million households (4.1%) pay more than two-thirds of their income on housing. Low-income households are far more likely to be paying a high proportion of their income on housing
• 4.1 million households (16%) have used a credit card to help meet their housing costs in the last 12 months
• Black and minority ethnic households, at 17%, are nearly twice as likely as white British households (9%) to say they are constantly struggling or falling behind with their housing payments.

The Shelter report says there must be action to build more homes, protect people at risk of losing their property and end the widening housing divide between the housing haves and have nots.

James Jopling, Head of Campaigns at Shelter Scotland, said: 'Shelter’s new report shows just how difficult it is for ordinary people to cope with spiralling housing costs and how desperately unaffordable housing has become. People are going to extraordinary lengths to ensure they pay their rent or mortgage, but the affects of stress or depression, having to sell possessions or deprive the kids of treats can be devastating to family life.'

The report sets out a detailed plan to tackle the affordability crisis in England, while in Scotland the charity has drawn up a list of must-see actions to stem the housing crisis.

Mr Jopling added: 'The lack of affordable housing hasn't just been felt by aspiring homeowners. People renting in the private and social sectors have also experienced the ill-effects of high housing costs.

'With the potential for more repossessions, private sector rents rising, and hundreds of thousands stuck on the council housing waiting list or in temporary accommodation, governments and others must build more homes, protect people at risk and end the housing divide. We look forward to hearing from Scottish Government plans for meeting housing need when it reports on Firm Foundations later this month.'

Notes to editors

1. Copies of the report and survey statistics can be downloaded from http://media.shelter.org.uk. For Scottish recommendations on what needs to be done, visit  http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/media/affordability
2. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 6,799 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 14th - 18th March 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Figures are based on additional analysis of YouGov survey data carried out by Shelter. Please be advised, the figures have not been broken down for Scotland.
3. YouGov is a member of the Market Research Society. YouGov is registered with the Information Commissioner. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council.
4. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews. For more information about Shelter visit www.shelter.org.uk