Shelter says recorded homelessness is growing alarmingly

It is using the finale of the Big Brother TV show to highlight the plight of people facing real-life evictions.

Shelter Cymru said the majority of evictions were social housing tenants.

The Welsh Federation of Housing Associations and the Welsh Local Government Association said evictions were always a last resort.

Shelter Cymru said it wanted to contrast the popularity of the Channel 4 television series with the situation facing thousands of people without a home to call their own.

The level of homeless in Wales is high enough - it's not in our interest to increase that Welsh Federation of Housing Associations

The sixth series of Big Brother - whose housemates are "evicted" from the programme after a telephone poll of the programme's viewers - is due to end on Friday.

In December 2004, Shelter Cymru said homelessness in Wales had hit record levels, with more than 10,000 families living in temporary accommodation.

Director John Puzey, said: "During the 10 weeks that Big Brother has been staging evictions, over 1,500 people in Wales have either faced imminent eviction or have lost their homes.

More than 8,000 children are made homeless every year, the charity says

"Recorded homelessness is growing alarmingly across the country. The main reasons for this include the staggering house price inflation and the lack of affordable housing in Wales.

"But evictions, particularly from the social rented sector, which could be prevented, are contributing to the problem."

The charity said the main reasons for the evictions would have been rent arrears.

Mr Puzey added: "This is an unacceptable situation. We must start to reduce evictions and at least make sure that no one can lose their home without first getting advice and support to try and prevent it from happening."

'Hardcore cases'

Howard John, director of the Welsh Federation of Housing Association, said: "The level of homelessness in Wales is high enough. It's not in our interest to increase that.

"There is considerably more pressure on landlords to ensure the rent is paid (but) the housing association eviction is always the action of last resort."

Welsh Local Government Association spokesman Steve Thomas questioned comparing homelessness to a television programme.

"Evictions are a last resort. We also run social services and have to deal with some of the outcomes of our landlord services," he said.

"These cases are sometimes hardcore cases where there are real problems in terms of recovering rent and of anti-social behaviour."

Shelter said it was not criticising local councils and that by using the TV programme it was "not comparing but contrasting the situation between real life and the Big Brother show".