A renewed drive has been made to tackle a housing crisis in south Cumbria after a local council revealed applications for homelessness had risen by more than 150 per cent.

Beginning in mid January, South Lakeland District Council will trial a housing advice drop in centre in Ulverston in a bid to see that figure drop.

In the past year SLDC has seen the number of people applying for homeless status increase from 61 to 167. This has coincided with a deepening housing crisis in the area, with 3,000 currently on the waiting list for affordable accommodation.

Mark Wilson, SLDC councillor for Ulverston east, welcomed the scheme at a time when there were deep problems facing south Lakes communities.

He said: "Anything that can help bring down the misery of not having a home in the place that you want it, the type of of house that you want to stay in or your family needs. If that can be brought down it would be a good thing."

From January 12 monthly outreach sessions will be held at the Ulverston Town Council office, next to the Coronation Hall. A second will also be trialled in Windermere. SLDC cabinet member for housing and innovation Jonathan Brook painted a bleak picture of the current situation.

He said: "You could be forgiven for thinking homelessness isn’t a problem here in South Lakeland. However, the truth is the number of people needing help to keep a roof over their head is rising and we expect it to continue increasing."

With hundreds of people attending SLDC's advice centre in Kendal each year, the expansion is an important step for helping communities across the district.

Alan Davis, SLDC’s housing options manager, said: "Over the past year 760 local people have contacted us for housing-related advice at our Kendal-based council offices.

"Clearly these are issues which don’t just come from the Kendal area. This is a large district and we need to make our service more accessible for the wider community."

If the trial is successful, the advice sessions will be made a permanent fixture in the towns.