HOMELESS charity Shelter are urging the Government to tackle the issue in the North West.

Their call follows a report to the Treasury that revealed a 69 per cent rise in the number of homeless people in the region living in temporary accommodation.

The Treasury-sponsored Barker Review looked at housing supply and highlighted the downward spiral of affordable house-building.

Shelter now want the Government to act on this report and boost funding for affordable housing in the North West.

Shelter director Adam Sampson, said: "The Barker report places an obligation on the Government to boost spending. Not only do we need to increase the number of homes in the broader sense, but there also needs to be urgent reforms to the planning system."