New homeless figure sparks Shelter giving campaign – but not to give homes

New homeless figure sparks Shelter giving campaign – but not to give homes

9:54 AM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago 9

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The number of children living in temporary accommodation in England has reached a new record high, according to government figures.

It says that nearly 139,000 children are homeless and living in hostels, B&Bs or other places, an increase of 14% compared to last year.

On the back of the news, Shelter says that these types of accommodation are often the worst for families, as they must share one room, sleep in the same bed and cope with hazards such as mould and faulty electrics.

The charity also says that living in such conditions can have a devastating impact on children’s health, education and wellbeing.

The homelessness charity won’t be providing homes

The charity has now unveiled its new giving campaign which aims to raise funds and awareness for its work – though the homelessness charity won’t be providing homes.

Shelter’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “We’ve hit yet another shameful record in the housing emergency, with nearly 139,000 children now facing spending Christmas without a safe and secure place to call home.

“Decades of failure to build enough social homes combined with record-high private rents has resulted in more and more families being plunged into homelessness.

“For most this will mean months or even years in temporary accommodation, where their lives are stuffed into cardboard boxes, and they can be forced to move at the drop of a hat.”

Turn the tide on homelessness

Ms Neate continued: “To turn the tide on homelessness, the government must commit to building 90,000 genuinely affordable social homes a year.

“Until then, Shelter will be there to help people find or keep hold of a safe home.

“With more people being forced to seek our help this winter, we’re asking for the public to support our urgent appeal to help us keep up with rising demand.”

Shelter says that its frontline services are facing a surge of calls from people who are at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

The charity’s expert advisers offer advice and support to people through its emergency helpline, webchat, face-to-face teams and website.


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Comments

Easy rider

10:29 AM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

If one family is helped to ‘keep hold of a safe home’, that’s a home that won’t be made available to another, perhaps more deserving family or a family with greater needs.
Come on Shelter, buy some houses and let them to drug addicts, benefits cheats and those with ASBOs.
Put you massive amounts of money where your equally massive mouth is.

Martin Roberts

11:36 AM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

Advertising Standards and the Charity Commission really need to look into Shelter.

They love to give the impression they help to house people in order to line their own pockets.

Sheridan Vickers

13:29 PM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

So shameful Polly Neate's Shelter do not house people. They're sitting on £49.5m doing nothing just filling their pockets and having large bonuses each year. They could actually build a few nice homes for the homeless. What do they do with all that money. Polly is earning £122,000 a year just for slagging off landlords. I could earn that slagging her off. Maybe they should try housing people and then see the stress that comes with it when the tenants wreck your property, doesn't pay rent and cause anti-social behaviour. I've never heard so much sh** in my life.

Old Mrs Landlord

17:10 PM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

It's certainly news to me that Shelter is "there to help people find ... a safe home". I would like to know how they do that. Have they set up a lettings agency, joined ARLA or what?

LaLo

18:38 PM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

I’m very confused - immigrants are given luxury hotel accommodation when there are so many homeless. Am I missing something?

Martin Roberts

19:54 PM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by LaLo at 01/12/2023 - 18:38
Only illegal imigrants.

LaLo

20:12 PM, 1st December 2023, About 5 months ago

Reply to M R. That makes even more unfair!

JeggNegg

17:58 PM, 3rd December 2023, About 5 months ago

not great reading from Shelter . if i was someone who made donations to this .'Charity' i think i would be asking if their business model is working in todays housing problems.
they seem to find faults with so many issues in housing human beings, yet rarely make positive suggestions that THEY will invest to help the homeless problem for children. Which i accept is a real on going problem.

Stella

10:47 AM, 7th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 03/12/2023 - 17:58
Why are so many organisations duped by shelter and are happy to blindly support them?

I just had an e mail from the cooperative bank extolling their virtues and asking me to sign a link to support their fairer renting.

They cannot see the problems that their policies are causing for these unfortunate people who are trying to find a place to live.

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