The disturbing trend is not fully reflected in official government data, according to the study.
"Today's report reveals the true scale of homelessness in England, which headline figures no longer reflect," Chief Executive of Crisis, Jon Sparkes, said in a statement. "[Local] Council officials are clear that benefit cuts and sanctions are taking a dreadful toll on people's lives, with rising numbers facing the loss of their home at a time when councils are being forced to cut services."
The study revealed that the number of people facing homelessness who applied for help in their local councils increased by 9 percent last year, while "rough sleeping," sleeping on the street, increased by 5 percent. The sharpest increases in homelessness have been observed in London and in the South of the country.
Nearly 90 percent of councils believe that welfare cuts will keep affecting homelessness with over half of them expecting that the situation could worsen in the next two years.
"If we are to prevent a deepening crisis, we must look to secure alternatives to home ownership for those who cannot afford to buy – longer-term, secure accommodation at prices that those on the lowest incomes can afford," JRF's Chief Executive, Julia Unwin, said.
Last year's welfare cuts pushed 1.75 million British households into deeper poverty. Some 300,000 households experienced a cut in their housing benefit, according to research by Oxfam and the New Policy Institute.
