The 2,500 families at risk of homelessness in Dudley
Almost 2,500 households across Dudley have been at risk of becoming homeless or lost their homes during the past year, according to new figures.
Calls to Dudley Council's help line soared with the homelessness service receiving 2,400 referrals in 2013/14.
Meanwhile the mortgage arrears advice service in Dudley received 355 calls to help families, up from 185 in 2012.
Councillor Alan Finch, who represents Castle and Priory, one of Dudley's most deprived wards, said he believes the economic climate is to blame for the rapidly climbing numbers.
Councillor Finch said: "It is very simple, the economic situation is creating the homelessness issues and referrals.
"That is the problem, people are really suffering because of the severity of cuts.
"In Dudley they are saying we have plenty of work, but in my surgeries I see these people and they say there are no jobs, they are suffering.
"It is getting harder and harder to help these people because even the services which are supposed to help them are being cut.
"These are not people on benefits but hard workers who have never taken a handout in their life, which is why they end up on the streets."
According to the Council, just over 1,400 of the referrals were for families who were not homeless but were 'at risk', who received advice from the council to prevent them losing their homes.
Just under 400 cases of actual homelessness were dealt with and 150 others who had already lost their homes were owed a re-housing duty.
The homeless service said it was able to prevent homelessness in 390 cases out of 2,400, with partner agencies helping 583 others.
The research, based on data recorded by the Ministry of Justice, found that this is equivalent to 143 people in the region being put at risk of eviction or repossession every day of the year.
Figures released by Shelter last week showed that one in every 106 households in the West Midlands region is at risk of losing their home.
The number of calls to the charity from people struggling to pay for their homes in the West Midlands also rose by just more than 97 per cent in the past two years.
In October it was revealed around 5,435 households were in arrears across the borough, totalling more than £1.4 million, however the number of people in arrears had fallen compared with September last year, when more than 9,000 tenants were in arrears.
Reforms such as the 'bedroom tax' and the introduction of a benefit cap which came into force last year have been blamed for people falling behind on their payments.
Councillor Gaye Partridge, cabinet member for housing, said: "If anyone is struggling to pay their rent it is important that they don't ignore it but contact us and we can help."
