THE number of Oxford families evicted from their homes has dropped by a third, according to Shelter.

But the charity says many people are still struggling.

From January to September last year (the last available statistics) 295 families in the city were forced to live in temporary accommodation after failing to meet mortgage or rent repayments.

The figures are much lower than the same period in 2008, when 438 families were forced to leave their homes.

But a report by the homeless people’s charity revealed 90 recession-hit families in the county were still at “serious risk” of losing their homes – down 43 per cent on the year before.

James Merritt, who works for the charity in Oxford, said: “I have been surprised by the sheer number of people I am dealing with in the city.

“Families are losing their home, which is a very scary experience for everybody involved.

“I run two sessions a week in the city and I am picking up five or six new clients every time. Right now I am working with at least 50.”

Mr Merritt said the biggest worry for many was the lack of social housing in Oxford.

He said: “There is a massive demand for housing in the city and there is simply not enough around. People can potentially face years of waiting for accommodation, which is only going to get worse as more people get into financial trouble.

“We have a real fight on our hands to help these people.

“Oxford City Council is doing everything it can, but the demand is simply too great.”

Mr Merritt said tenants were not always to blame when becoming homeless.

He added: “There have been a number of occasions when a landlord has defaulted on mortgage repayments.

“Even where the family has paid the rent on time, the first thing they may hear of a problem is when they receive a court order telling them their house is being repossessed.”

Shelter predicts roughly 53,000 households across the UK will be repossessed this year.

Shelter’s Thames Valley advice surgery operates an outreach service in Oxford at 2-3 Bank Court, Templar Square, Cowley, on Tuesdays, and at its offices in St Aldate’s on Thursdays.

For further information call 0344 515 1873.