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Govt Mortgage Rescue Scheme has only helped one household
Only one household has so far been helped by the government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme since it started in January.
The scheme, which was first announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in December, aims to assist the most needy homeowners facing the threat of repossession.
It was officially rolled out to all local authority areas in England from 16 January, following its earlier introduction by 80 councils in December.
However, it has emerged that just one household has benefited from the scheme so far this year.
Liberal Democrat shadow housing minister Sarah Teather said: "Tens of thousands of families will face the misery of repossession and homelessness this year but the government's scheme has helped just one household.
"This is an appalling failure by a government that is more interested in headline-grabbing than in helping families through the economic crisis."
When launched the scheme was touted as having the possibility of helping up to 6,000 households avoid repossession over the next two years.
It is targeted at families on incomes of less than £60,000 a year, who would be entitled to be re-housed under homelessness legislation.