Access to housing for vulnerable people in County Durham is now “the worst it’s ever been”, a frontline homelessness worker has warned, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Joshua Nichol.

It comes as a national survey of homelessness workers found more than half believe the pressures of the job are damaging their wellbeing, while more than a quarter say they are at risk of burnout.

Georgina Mawson-Blackmore, housing and communities manager at Cornerstone, said a shortage of affordable homes and growing pressures in the private rented sector were leaving some vulnerable people with few housing options.

Ms Mawson-Blackmore said housing shortages were making it increasingly difficult to help people move on from homelessness.

She said: “It’s never been this bad before.

“The chances of me getting someone housed with a private landlord is slim to none these days.

“It used to be one or two a month whereas it’s more like one or two every six months if that.

“I’ve been working in homelessness for just over five years and when it comes to what’s available, it’s the worst it’s ever been.”

Ms Mawson-Blackmore said some landlords were leaving the private rented sector because of economic pressures and the increasing costs of operating rental properties.

The comments were made as part of research by homelessness charity St Martin-in-the-Fields, which surveyed 1,229 frontline homelessness workers across the UK between March and May this year.

The study found 85 per cent of respondents struggled to find suitable housing for the people they support.

Duncan Shrubsole, chief executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, said frontline staff were battling “systemic barriers” including a lack of affordable housing and difficulties accessing health services.

Responding to Ms Mawson-Blackmore’s concerns, Durham County Council said it continued to work with partners to prevent homelessness and support people at risk.

Ted Murphy, the council’s building safety and housing standards manager, said: “Our in-house homelessness prevention service offers a range of support and intervention measures for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“While some landlords report regulation as a reason for investment decisions, our evidence suggests that the county’s private rental sector has grown by almost 85 per cent since 2011.

“When landlords leave the market, it is usually linked to national tax and mortgage pressures, rather than local licensing.”

He added that the authority wanted all residents, including those facing homelessness, to have access to safe, high-quality housing.