Gail Porter, who slept on Hampstead Heath when she was homeless, appears at the art installation in Camden Town

CHRISTMAS is the most lonely and difficult time of the year for thousands of people, TV presenter Gail Porter warned as she took part in a homeless charity’s art installation under Camden Lock bridge.

The 51-year-old is backing the The Single Homeless Project in a campaign to help 4,000 people in the capital expected to be made homeless in the next four weeks.

The SHP, the largest homeless charity in the country, wants the government to raise Local Housing Allowance and benefit caps to help people pay their rent and stay in their own homes.

Ms Porter, who was made homeless briefly around 20 years ago, said: “Christmas is a time for being around friends and loved ones, sharing festive cheer. I know first-hand that for many people experi­encing homeless­ness, it’s one of the loneliest and most difficult times of the year.”

The installation, under the Lock bridge, shows a festive sitting room with a twinkling tree, comfy armchair and warm throws set in contrast with a tent and sleeping bag. SHP says that high rental rates, rather than low benefits, are the main drivers of homelessness.

The Local Housing Allowance, which has not risen since 2019, determines the amount of rent that is covered by benefits.

But this is capped making it inadequate for many people. Liz Rutherfoord, the chief executive at SHP, said: “It means that after rent, people are left with very little to survive on. We need an urgent increase in LHA and a proportionate raise in the benefit cap to give Londoners a fair chance and stop thousands more being forced into homelessness. “Everyone deserves a place to call home, for good.”

Charlotte, 41, a woman from Camden who was facing losing her home because of the LHA situation was helped by the charity. She now has her own flat and works as a personal trainer helping homeless people get fit.

She said: “I know what it’s like when you’re staring at those unpaid bills and wondering how on earth you’re going to pay them.

“It’s a dark place to be and that daily threat of homelessness severely affects your mental health.

“Surely it makes sense for the government to help people stay in their own homes by giving them a fair chance at making ends meet? Because what’s the alternative?”

There is information for helps with bills and rents on the Single Homeless Project website.

Last month, Ms Porter, during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, recounted her own brush with homelessness after TV work dried up.

“I did sleep at Hampstead Heath which was a bit scary. I was on the bench,” she told ITV’s breakfast programme.

“My friends, don’t get me wrong, were absolutely brilliant, but they all have families and things, so I was sort of going from place to place.”

Ms Porter added: “I just couldn’t pay my bills and of course the bills were going out, the rent has to be paid and there was no money coming in, it was a tricky one and, of course I have a daughter too, but she was with her dad because I didn’t have a stable place to stay.”