Mr Grant Shapps said that this country has one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people as local councils are required to keep a roof over their heads, and highlighted the wide range of support available to those struggling to stay in their homes.
New figures showed that 12,510 people were accepted as owed a main homelessness duty in the third quarter of the year - a rise of 6 per cent since the same period in 2010.
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The Government is committed to tackling homelessness and protecting the most vulnerable. The £6.5 billion Supporting People budget has been protected to ensure support is there for those who need it most, and more than £400 million has been invested in homelessness prevention over the next four years. More than £42 million has also been invested to improve rough sleeper accommodation, and £20 million to help ensure that no-one spends a second night out on the street across the country.
MMr Shapps said: "It's easy to feel alone in the face of financial difficulty but there is help available. Every council has a legal duty to ensure that eligible homeless households are not 'roofless', and can provide reams of free advice and information to prevent homelessness in the first place.
"That's why I would urge anyone facing the threat of being homeless this Christmas to seek help. My message is clear - the quicker you act, the quicker we can help."
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