Funding Shelter's professional services
Shelter supports professionals and volunteers thanks to funding from the UK Government, local councils, financial institutions, and charities.
Donations from the public are welcome and essential to delivering all Shelter's services.
Together, our funders support advice, training, and online resources for charity and statutory services. This enables staff and volunteers in their work to reduce homelessness.
Government help for housing professionals
The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government funds Shelter's development of products and services to benefit people working in the voluntary and community sectors.
The Voluntary and Community Frontline Sector programme funds in-person and online training, an expert advice service, and online resources. It helps organisations to build capacity in front-line services.
Support for public authority staff
Not everyone who helps homeless people works directly in a housing role. Staff working in public authorities like the NHS, Jobcentre Plus, or The Probation Service regularly encounter people in housing need.
This government grant ensures people working in public services receive the training and expert help they need to deal with homelessness cases.
Expert homelessness advice and online information
MHCLG funds the development of expert advice and online information.
Shelter's dedicated Expert Housing Advice Service supports staff and volunteers with housing, homelessness, and welfare benefits cases. Advice is delivered by phone and webchat, and through online resources.
Find out more about the Expert Housing Advice Service.
The Shelter Legal guide to housing law for professionals is fully annotated with legislation, case law, and guidance. Reference content, solution-focused practical resources, and news and updates are all available on Shelter's website.
Find online resources for professionals.
Shelter's partnership with Homeless Link
Shelter and Homeless Link's government-funded partnership provides training and development for professionals and volunteers. This includes training on housing law and homelessness. It also covers professional skills and role-based development.
Homeless Link uses its insights into the homelessness sector to facilitate joint working between voluntary and community organisations, local public bodies, and local authorities to tackle local homelessness challenges.
Shelter training, events and integrated online resources help professionals understand the legal frameworks that underpin housing and homelessness.
Find out more about Shelter's partnership with Homeless Link.
London Plus partnership
London Plus is a partnership between London Councils, Shelter and Homeless Link, funded by the London Councils as part of their Grants Programme until 2026.
The partnership works with housing and homelessness organisations and professionals to improve the response to homelessness in London.
Find out more about London Plus from Homeless Link.
Government help for debt professionals
The Money and Pensions Service and the Welsh Government fund Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
This funds a Specialist Debt Advice Service and the development of new online information for people who deliver debt advice in local communities and national services.
Specialist debt advice
Shelter's team of specialist advisers supports professionals and volunteers from eligible organisations in England and Wales.
Debt advisers in Citizens Advice, local authorities and law centres can get expert help with tricky debt cases. Advice is given by webchat, phone, and email.
Find out about Shelter's Specialist Debt Advice Service.
Updates and online information
The Specialist Debt Advice Service produces a monthly bulletin for debt professionals with news, updates, and legal articles.
Legal reference information, practical resources, and news and updates are available on Shelter's website. Find online debt advice resources for professionals.
Support for veterans
The Royal British Legion funds advice, training, and online resources for professionals and volunteers who work with veterans.
Expert help for RBL advisers
People who work for the Royal British Legion can get help with housing cases from Shelter. Training and online resources address specific problems faced by veterans in the UK.
Financial exclusion
HSBC funds Shelter through its Breaking the Cycle project, to address financial exclusion contributing to entrenched rough sleeping.
No fixed address bank accounts
HSBC, Lloyds and Co-operative Bank participate in the No Fixed Address bank accounts scheme. Banks work with charity partners to provide essential banking services to financially excluded people, like people without a permanent address.
Find out more about No Fixed Address bank accounts.
Public donations
The financial support Shelter receives from public donations helps all our services to work effectively.
Find out more about how Shelter spends public donations.