People desperate for somewhere to live after being evicted from rented accommodation are inundating councillors with emails for help, Falmouth's deputy mayor has said.

Speaking in support of a motion from Cllr Jayne Kirkham to reiterate the town council's support for measures to be taken tackle the current housing crisis, deputy mayor Kirstie Edwards said it was the top email in her inbox as she was sure it was with many others.

"Like many of you the top email I get in my inbox is people desperate," she said. "We're talking families, working families even now, and it's changing more and more. Those who do have money in the bank who can afford to put down six month's rent still can't find anywhere to live and that squeeze concerns me because what about those families that don't have that bit of money behind them to put down?"

Putting forward the motion, Cllr Kirkham said things had been getting worse since the earlier motion was passed. She said a lot of work had been done by the Falmouth branch of the UK renters union & anti-poverty organising group ACORN but more needed to be done on a national level.

"To show support although we did pass a motion back at the start of the year declaring a housing emergency in Falmouth there's been some action taken but not very much and it feels like the situation is getting worse because of all the other issues that are going on with the cost of living. But still people are losing their homes in the private rented sector, prices have gone up nearly 20% in a year because people want to holiday let Air B'n'B."

She said there are things the council can push the government to do such as regulation, licensing, restrictions on new builds a register of second homes and short term lets, using the taxation system and local residents requirements.

"Those are all things we've previously mentioned but Acorn have been doing a lot of work talking to Cornwall Council, but the situation is getting worse and it seemed like a good time to reiterate strongly what we believe and support the measures to be taken to push for those things and we'll look at our NDP and everything that's in there about housing.

"So there are certain things we can do locally but to be honest most of it is done at national level and requires primary legislation and if we don't go on and on shouting for Cornwall it won't happen.

Cllr Edwards added: "As Jayne said it is very important that we are shouting and screaming about this. It needs action way above our level but from our tiny corner of Cornwall we need to put us on the map."

Councillors voted unanimously to continue to support the motion.

Falmouth mayor Steve Eva thanked members of Acorn for attending the meeting even though they weren't allowed to speak.

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In a statement after the meeting ACORN said: "Last night we attended a Falmouth Town Council meeting to propose an official motion of support for our #Homesbeforeholidays campaign.

"Councillors unanimously backed the proposal and the whole council has now signed on to the campaign for added planning permission for second homes and holiday lets.

"This victory is a step towards our final goal, and gives us more leverage when we take our proposal to Cornwall Council".