Shelter Sees Surge in Demand for Help

Calls to the housing charity Shelter have surged 40% as rising living costs and welfare cuts leave growing numbers of people struggling to pay their bills.

The charity said in the past year its helpline dealt with 12,408 callers in England who wanted assistance with housing costs, arrears and other debt problems – up from 8,838 in 2011-12. In the past six months unique visits to its online advice page had doubled, it added. Shelter said with further benefit cuts on the way, it was concerned that "even more people will be left desperately trying to find the means to pay for their home". Read more on the Shelter website.