Shelter sounds alarm as more than 1,000 people a day call emergency helpline

Since the Covid restrictions began to lift in June 2021, more than 1,000 callers a day have contacted Shelter’s emergency helpline in England, new data reveals today.

The charity’s free helpline, which is part funded by M&S Food, has been inundated with more than 60,000 people ringing in need of urgent support and advice between June and October 2021. Of those calling 70% were already homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Vital Covid protections, such as the evictions ban, were critical in keeping thousands safe in their homes. But as they have gradually wound down and living costs have shot up thousands of people have been contacting the housing charity for help.

The nature of the calls Shelter receives shows just how urgent the situation has become:

• One in four callers (24%) needed urgent help to find temporary accommodation

• More than one in four (26%) needed help to try and keep hold of their current home

With the latest government figures showing a household becomes homeless every four minutes, Shelter is warning a difficult winter lies ahead for its services at the frontline of the housing emergency. Its dedicated team of helpline advisers are preparing to answer calls from huge numbers of people facing homelessness and hardship in the months to come.

Andrea Deakin, Helpline Manager at Shelter, said: “The last year has been hard, and 2022 is going to be just as tough. Now Covid protections have ended and living costs are soaring, we’re answering calls from thousands of people who are homeless or about to be.”

One of the reasons Shelter can keep its emergency helpline open 365 days a year is through its longstanding partnership with M&S Food. A percentage of every sale from M&S’s festive Food on the Move range, including Christmas sandwiches, goes directly towards the emergency helpline.

“We’re working every day, including Christmas day, to make sure no one faces homelessness alone, but we’ve got our work cut out. By the time we get that call most people have exhausted every other avenue - from the family about to be evicted, to the person facing another night sleeping in their car. As well as helping us to give expert support, everyone who picks something up from M&S’s Food on the Move range, is giving hope for a brighter 2022.”

The funds raised from M&S’s festive Food on the Move range will help people like Simon and his family. The Southend-based family were facing homelessness after they were served an eviction notice on Simon’s birthday. With the support of Shelter’s helpline team, he, his wife and their three children have been able to secure a social home.

Simon said: “Securing somewhere to live during a pandemic, was completely exhausting. The stress chipped away at us and the kids felt it too. It’d be the first thing in my mind when I woke up and the last thing before bed. Another day worrying if the bailiffs would come knocking. The anxiety was crushing – I’d get up, throw up and prepare myself for another day fighting for my home.

“What can you say when your kid asks where we’ll be spending Christmas? I couldn’t make promises because I didn’t know where we’d be. Shelter have enabled us to set down roots in a safe home. Now my kids are so excited for their first Christmas in a stable home, and we are too – all of that worry has gone. None of this would have been possible without Shelter’s fantastic helpline advisers.”

Jo Daniels, Head of Partnerships at M&S said: “We’ve been supporting Shelter since 2005 and are incredibly proud of the work they do. Not only do we support through our Festive Food on the Move range, but Shelter is also one of our Sparks charities meaning customers can help every time they shop.”

ENDS

Anyone who is facing homelessness can get free and expert advice through Shelter’s emergency helpline, webchat service and online advice pages. Visit www.shelter.org.uk/get_help to find out more.