Tom did his best to cooperate with his landlord’s ‘put up and shut up’ policy. But when he complained about a leaking gas oven, he found himself locked out and homeless.
Things had never been quite right with Tom’s shared house — far from it, in fact.
His landlord blocked off access to the boiler and would leave the thermostat on such a low setting that the heating wouldn’t come on … Read more
Prejudice against people on housing benefit is leaving renters with nowhere to turn. But thanks to your fantastic support, we’ve taken three big steps forward.
People who rent in the UK often face unfair discrimination if they’re on benefits, which prevents hundreds of thousands of people living in homes they could otherwise afford, pushing them closer to homelessness. There’s no excuse for this, and even the most plausible defences of ‘No DSS’ are bogus.
That’s why, in August 2018, we began our campaign to stop DSS discrimination. Here’s what we’ve achieved … Read more
Pointers and practical advice if you want to help people sleeping on the streets.
The number of people sleeping rough in England has gone up 165% since 2010. It’s a huge increase.
If you’re worried about someone sleeping on the streets, here are some practical ways to help.
Tell StreetLink
Let StreetLink know by sending them an online alert. Remember to have as much information as you can about the person’s exact location and appearance. The details you provide will … Read more
After Grenfell, we’re calling for a historic renewal of social housing.
Last year, we brought together 16 commissioners from different backgrounds and perspectives and across the political spectrum, to set out a vision for a bigger and better future for social housing. The commission was chaired by Reverend Dr Mike Long, Minister of Notting Hill Methodist Church, whose church played a significant role in the aftermath of the fire.
Calling for changeThe final report was published this January, called … Read more
Tom did his best to cooperate with his landlord’s ‘put up and shut up’ policy. But when he complained about a leaking gas oven, he found himself locked out and homeless.
Things had never been quite right with Tom’s shared house — far from it, in fact.
His landlord blocked off access to the boiler and would leave the thermostat on such a low setting that the heating wouldn’t come on unless it was freezing.
He also made a daily habit of coming to … Read more
Our helpline is vital for anyone who needs emergency housing advice, 365 days a year. Sharon, one of our expert advisers answers your questions.
Q: Who calls the helpline?
Anyone and everyone; people from every walk of life and across all generations.
Q: What do they call about?
It can vary seasonally. For example, during the winter months we have a lot of calls about damp and mould, boiler problems and general disrepair in rented properties.
Changes in legislation and … Read more
Join our campaign and stop this shocking discrimination against people on benefits from wrecking lives
Open discrimination against people on benefits is freely taking place up and down the country, in letting agent windows and online adverts. In ‘No DSS’, we have a sign that prejudice is rife in the housing market. And it’s destroying lives.
For private renters squeezed by low wages and high prices, ‘No DSS’ can be the final straw. Some landlords and letting agents won’t rent … Read more
Taxi driver Barry is a former rough sleeper. He tells us why he’s running the London Marathon for Shelter
Today, I look back at how impossible I was, when really I was a scared and frightened little boy.
I’d spent my teenage years in an out of children’s homes, foster care and supported living. At 16, I was placed into a bedsit with lots of support, but I let myself down by not accepting any help.
At 17 when I … Read more
Over a year later, we’re still supporting residents who survived the Grenfell Tower fire, and working to hold the authorities to account and leading the conversation on the future of social housing.
How we’ve helpedImmediately after the fire Shelter’s team of advisers, solicitors and volunteers offered expert housing advice and support. And we set up a new dedicated service.
We have so far helped 90 people from Grenfell Tower and 180 from the nearby community.
Stephanie, whose flat overlooks … Read more
Imagine wanting to take your child home from hospital but being unable to do so as the conditions there would make him ill – or even endanger his life. That’s what Laura faced until our hospital discharge team in Birmingham stepped into help.
When we first met Laura, she was living in a damp and mouldy council flat with her four young children, worried for their health and terrified they might be taken into care.
Living in unacceptable conditionsLaura, … Read more
