A GRANT to tackle homelessness in the New Forest has been branded "pitiful", the Daily Echo can reveal.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has announced that the district council is to receive one of the lowest grants in the county - even though it has the highest number of homeless families.

The Daily Echo reported on Tuesday how the Salvation Army has been awarded £4m to modernise its Mountbatten Centre hostel in Southampton, on top of £340,000 awarded to the city council.

There are currently 415 families living in temporary accommodation in the Forest, compared to 245 in Southampton and 106 in Fareham.

Yet the New Forest can expect just £27,000 from Mr Prescott's £150m national fund.

Maureen Robinson, leader of the New Forest Liberal Democrats Party, said: "It's an absolutely pitiful amount of money. It's not actually going to solve anybody's homelessness problem.

"I've no doubt the district council will put the money to good use to try and prevent and advise people about homelessness but it isn't going to make much difference to a lot of people's lives."

Father-of-six Gareth Warburton is being moved into temporary accommodation because he has been evicted by his landlord.

He said: "I think it's disgusting. They think because there's a lot of money here that we don't need help."

Dave Brown, assistant director of housing for New Forest District Council, said: "I think it's fair to say the New Forest has a very serious problem in terms of affordability."

He said the average price of a property in the Forest was £230,000, compared to an average income of £20,000.

"We don't have a huge number of people living rough but we do have a huge number of people who can't afford to buy a house and struggle to find a place to rent."

Mr Brown said the £27,000 would be ploughed into providing advice to help prevent New Forest residents from becoming homeless.

Tarig Hilal, policy manager for homeless charity Crisis, said homelessness in rural areas such as the New Forest was perceived to be a less serious problem than urban homelessness.

He said: "Studies have shown there are often more homeless people in rural areas than official figures show."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said funding for the New Forest had been maintained at the same level as last year as the council had not applied for a bigger grant.