New homeless figure sparks Shelter giving campaign – but not to give homes
2 years ago | 9 comments
Shelter says 309,000 people will spend Christmas homeless – as it unveils fundraising campaign
12:02 AM, 15th December 2023, 2 years ago
31
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At least 309,000 people in England will spend Christmas without a home, including nearly 140,000 children – which Shelter says is an ‘outrage’ as it launches a new fundraising drive.
Shelter is a campaigning charity offering advice and information to tenants and pushes for policy changes by the government.
It doesn’t provide homes for those at risk of losing theirs or are living on the street.
The charity blames ‘skyrocketing’ private rents and a lack of social housing being built for leaving vulnerable people in ‘grotty hostels’ and ‘cramped bedsits’.
‘Homelessness is on nobody’s Christmas list’
The charity’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “Homelessness is on nobody’s Christmas list, but 309,000 people will spend this time of year in a tiny hostel room or freezing in a doorway.
“The housing emergency is out of control. Chronic underinvestment in social homes has left people unable to afford skyrocketing private rents and plunged record numbers into homelessness.”
She added: “It is appalling that the government has allowed thousands of families to be packed into damp and dirty B&B’s and hostel rooms, which are traumatising children and making people desperately ill.
“Until the government takes this emergency seriously, our frontline services will do everything they can to help people keep or find a safe home this winter.
“It is only with the public’s support that we can continue to provide vital advice and support and fight for the solutions people want and need to end homelessness.”
Homeless figure has increased by 14%
Shelter says the homeless figure has increased by 14%, or 38,100 people, in one year and after analysing official homelessness figures, it also says that one in 182 people in England are currently homeless.
The charity’s research shows homelessness has risen rapidly in just 12 months: over 3,000 people are sleeping rough on any given night (a 26% increase) and 279,400 are living in temporary accommodation (a 14% increase) – most of whom are families.
There are also 20,000 people in hostels or supported accommodation.
Families who are homeless
The government’s figures reveal that almost half (47%) of families who are homeless in temporary accommodation have been there for more than two years.
Councils have a legal duty to house families and people who are vulnerable, but the acute shortage of affordable homes means they are having to rely on temporary accommodation for long periods.
Shelters says that the housing emergency is leaving families stuck for months in poor accommodation and often having to share beds with no, or inadequate, cooking and laundry facilities.
It also warns that those not entitled to accommodation may end up on the streets, sofa-surfing or in dangerous living conditions.
Tags:
children, Christmas, families, homelessness, Hostels, Shelter, supported accommodation, temporary accommodation, UK
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Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3504 - Articles: 5
3:33 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 15/12/2023 – 15:19
I am avoiding purchases from M&S as a result of their association with Shelter. Might write to them myself…
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 616
4:36 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 15/12/2023 – 13:23
It is not only M&S who are supporting Shelter I had an email from the Cooperative bank recently asking me to support Shelter also.
It is a great shame that these organisations never seem to support charities that really house the homeless.
Instead they support Shelter who are the root cause of so many problems that will only lead to more people living on the streets.
I can only see things getting a lot worse while Shelter come up with more ideas that will hasen the demise of the PRS
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
4:45 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 15/12/2023 – 16:36
Shelter has a great PR machine. It’s what the donations pay for. They also have deep contacts on the London champagne socialist dinner circuit. Other small, true homeless charities, don’t stand a chance.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1996
5:08 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 15/12/2023 – 16:36
So I won’t be opening an account with the Cooperative bank any time soon either then.
In the meantime, in the run up to Christmas I won’t be buying from Marks & Spencer. I don’t mind buying products from supermarkets that make contributions to charities that actually do house homeless people and don’t attack landlords.
Member Since November 2016 - Comments: 227
5:36 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
B & Q Also donate to Shelter.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1996
5:47 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Martin Roberts at 15/12/2023 – 17:36
Better start buying my stuff from Wickes or Jewson then.
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 1056
6:38 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Both Crisis and St. Mungo’s do actually house homeless people but I am unaware of any charities local to me (West Country) who do.
Member Since November 2018 - Comments: 48
7:05 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
The Salvation Army
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 616
9:27 PM, 15th December 2023, About 2 years ago
I now support Centerpoint because they do a lot of good work and they house homeless young people.
For a number of years I supported Crisis but I cancelled my direct debit because of the unfair rhetoric they were using against the PRS
Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 173
12:11 AM, 16th December 2023, About 2 years ago
Shelter need people to be homeless so they can raise funds.
If they helped, by providing shelter, they’d help to fix the housing problem and there’d be no need for Shelter.
It’s a strange world.