THIS young couple face having nowhere to go in a month as Worcester struggles to cope with worsening homelessness.

Pregnant 18-year-old Zoe Gibson and her boyfriend Michael Bosch, aged 21, are currently staying at the YMCA, Henwick Road.

But because they are now classed as a family they have to leave. Their plight emerged as figures showed placing homeless people in bed and breakfasts and other temporary homes could set the city council back £200,000 more than expected.

Michael moved in to the YMCA nine months ago after moving out of his friend's house in Lowesmoor. Zoe moved in 10 months ago when she left her father's home because it was too cramped.

Zoe is now four months pregnant with Michael's child. Because the YMCA cannot take families, she has to move out by next month - but the council cannot find her anything yet.

Neither have jobs and are getting worried about the future.

"It feels like our lives are in limbo," said Zoe. "We need to move out of the YMCA in four weeks and the council can't find us anywhere. We've been in touch with them several times but are still waiting."

There are 19 families and single people in B & B accommodation in Worcester - and another 108 in other temporary homes.

The council could be up to £200,000 in the red in its budget for dealing with homelessness, according to its own figures.

If it overspends by £200,000, the final cost of dealing with homelessness will top £500,000 from the current £330,000 at the end of the financial year.

Coun Roger Berry, from the opposition Labour Party, said the council was "dealing with the symptoms" and not the root cause of homelessness.

He said: "If we can find £200,000 to cover this overspend, why can't we find money to provide a more long term solution, like more affordable homes?"

The cabinet member for housing, Coun Francis Lankester defended the figures by saying: "I'm personally optimistic. We have known for some time there is a significant overspend on homelessness - and that £200,000 is a 'worse case' projection.

"I actually think it will be down to £100,000 at the end of the year, so although it looks horrendous to some, the trends are going in the right direction."

Deputy leader Coun Barry Mackenzie-Williams said: "There is an acceptance the overspend is a concern, but what the final outcome will be is difficult to know - I'm confident it will be less, maybe significantly less than the £200,000 projection."

The council managed to keep 78 people or families who applied for homelessness away from temporary facilities over the last three months - a record number.

Mr Mackenzie-Williams said at this stage it was too early too forecast how an overspend could affect the budget.