Calls for homelessness help to soar this Christmas, Shelter warns

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Shelter is bracing itself for an alarming rise in demand for help from people in the North West struggling to keep their homes this Christmas, following a record surge in callers to the charity’s helpline over the holiday period in 2012.

Last year, 1,374 people from the region called the helpline in December – a 17% increase from the year before – and the equivalent to more than 340 callers every week. The number of people from the North West who called the Shelter helpline from 2012 to 2013 reached 17,232 – a 16% rise year-on-year.

The shocking figures reflect the growing number of people struggling to cope with the rising costs of living coupled with stagnating wages. It is expected that more families will find it increasingly difficult to keep a roof over their heads, especially as bills mount in the run up to Christmas.

Liz Clare, a Shelter helpline adviser for nine years, says the Christmas period is the most difficult time of year for her and colleagues.

“The threat of homelessness is devastating at any time of year, but it seems to get worse around Christmas as the strains of the holidays close in and the weather gets cold.

“One Christmas Eve I answered a call from a mum with a disabled son. They were evicted from their home that night and had to sleep on the streets in the cold. We managed to find them a place to stay, but I’ll never forget the devastation in her voice. The sad fact is that eviction notices can come at any time of year.

“This is why we are so grateful to Marks & Spencer customers who raise money each Christmas. I’ve never seen the helpline as busy as it has been this year and their support helps us to be there to answer these desperate calls for help when people need us most.”

The Shelter helpline is open 365 days a year, with a dedicated team of 50 expert advisors. It is partly funded by the charity’s partnership with Marks & Spencer, whose customers have helped raise over £2million for the helpline over the past eight years by buying millions of Christmas sandwiches from Marks & Spencer’s Food on The Move range.

Earlier this month, the charity launched an emergency appeal for the 922 children in the North West who will wake up homeless this Christmas. Many of these children will be forced to spend Christmas day cramped into one room of a hostel or bed and breakfast with their entire family, far removed from the home comforts many look forward to over the Christmas season.