ONE in ten households in Southend are suffering from fuel poverty, according to a Government report.

Figures from the department for business, energy and industrial strategy revealed nearly 8,000 households are being pushed into poverty by the cost of heating and lighting their homes properly.

Across the east of England, around 240,000 households are in fuel poverty.

Jackie Bliss, chief executive at Southend’s homeless charity, Harp said: “It has been well documented that one in three workers could not cover more than a month’s rent or mortgage payments if they were to lose their jobs, and now, adding to this pressure is the rise in living costs.

“As well as our work with currently homeless people, around a third of the people we support are at risk of becoming homeless and this is often due to the unrealistic financial burden of managing a home.

“Whilst we can and do help people learn how to budget and find more cost effective ways to live, this gap between income and outgoings will continue to cause a serious threat to the most vulnerable people in Southend, as highlighted by this report”.

Southend Council insisted it is a national issue, but the council is doing all it can to eradicate fuel poverty and is looking at an energy project to reduce electricity costs and grid reliance.

Councillor Tony Cox, cabinet member for adults and housing, said: “In 2015, the council launched Southend Energy, which set out to enable local residents to switch their energy provider to cheaper tariffs.

To date, the scheme has saved our residents £1.6m in annual savings, and attracted more than 8,500 households.

In addition, the council actively participates in the local energy advice programme which providesresidents in fuel poverty with free energy efficiency measures. To date the scheme has delivered almost £180k worth of free energy efficiency measures and income maximisation to the benefit of our residents.

The project has also resulted in providing skill training to eight organisations, including Citizen Advice Southend, South Essex Homes, DWP, Age Concern and First Response Team, which helps them to provide advice to residents that are in fuel poverty.”