NEARLY three homeless families a week are being given emergency shelter in the Malvern area.

Another half-way hostel is also needed to accommodate families awaiting re-housing because the present hostel, containing 11 small flatlets, is frequently full.

Those with young children are re-housed as a priority and go to the top of the waiting list when they are admitted to the hostel, usually being re-housed in a few weeks.

But four applications a week from homeless single people and childless couples are turned down.

Among the 1,139 people on the waiting list for housing are many who have to live elsewhere and commute to Malvern to work.

"The problem is the lack of affordable flats and houses for rent," said housing chief Keith Parry, of Malvern Hills District Council.

"In an ideal world we would want to build 150 new units a year to keep pace with demand, but it's only averaging about 60 at the moment. One of the difficulties is finding suitable sites."

The council is considering forcing developers to provide one unit of social housing for every house built in rural areas, which would involve changing the Local Plan.

In the meantime, housing officers dealt with 348 applications from homeless people last year.

"You may look at beautiful, prosperous Malvern and think there is not a problem here, but homeless people are not necessarily living on the street," said Mr Parry.

Out of 142 families given permanent housing last year, 50 were living with relatives or friends no longer willing to shelter them.

Other reasons include relationship breakdowns (20 involving violence), loss of tenancy, after leaving a hospital or institution or due to mortgage or rent arrears.

After consultation with housing bodies, MHDC is drawing up a housing investment programme strategy, to be submitted to the Government by the end of July.