Campaigning charity Shelter is warning this winter could be one of the toughest yet - and it claims high rents are adding to the risk of increased homelessness.
The charity says that “as private rents reach record highs, household bills soar and more people fall behind on their housing costs, [its staff] are gearing up to answer calls from huge numbers of people facing homelessness this winter.”
It says some 78 per cent of callers are already homeless or at risk of homelessness, compared with 70 per cent during the same period in 2021.
And it claims over 1,000 calls on average are made to the emergency helpline every day.
It’s helpline is part funded by M&S Food. Five percent of every sale from M&S’s Festive Food on the Move range, including its Christmas sandwiches, goes directly towards the emergency helpline.
Helpline manager Andrea Deakin says: “Day in day out our advisers hear appalling stories of people in the most desperate situations, from the man whose increasing rent meant he only had one bag of rice to last him until payday to the homeless families bounced from hostel to hostel.
“We know we’ve got our work cut out, but everyone who picks something up from M&S’s Food on the Move range will help those putting on a brave face despite unimaginable hardship in their fight for a home.”
Jo Daniels, Head of Partnerships at M&S, adds: “We’ve been supporting Shelter since 2005 and have donated £14.6m in that time thanks to our generous colleagues and customers. We are very proud of what the partnership has achieved - not only do we support through our Festive Food on the Move range, but Shelter is also one of our Sparks charities meaning customers can help every time they shop.”
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Love M & S not mad about the other one
Hard times ahead, we all know that, rising rents who caused that Shelter ? that wouldn't have been yourselves would it ?
Glad this is being publicised - now I know what to avoid buying.
Congratrulations Shelter for scoring an own goal by driving out the PRS landlords.
Well I am glad M&S have come clean - I will avoid like the plague. There are more appropriate charities to support that will help those in need better. Shame on M&S for getting into bed with this hideous wicked political organisation.
I see Specsavers have partnered with Crisis. M&S that gets people real help, not Shelter!
I expect a lot of organisations get on board with Shelter but don't look at flip side. I believe they mean well, looks good on surface helping homeless. Who wouldn't help a genuine homeless where they can.
It,s just unfortunate out of doing a good thing through igronance are blighting there customers living in an other.
It for us to highlight that to businesses.
Trade Point (B&Q) being another, in Norwich Wickes is half a mile down the road which is where I go now.
That’s why even at the Wife’s annoyance I never buy anything from M and S and haven’t done for years. At least with this support we know Polly will be able to keep getting her fat salary this Christmas. Shelter the charity (Business) that houses no one.
The disgusting Shelter scam continues. If it were 'Crisis' I wouldnt be as objective.
M&S has enabled 'Turkeys voting for Christmas' Complain to the store manager give him the main reasons why this is wrong to support this deceptive organistion.
Next waitrose support war on want ?
Bit of a policy change since I worked for them 40 years ago. Any food which had reached its sell by date was first offered to staff at 70% discount. Anything left was thrown away. Similarly with any food items that were judged to be sub standard, say not enough jam in the marsh mellows, thrown in the bin!
I don't even think tenants understand what going on. Shops Fuels the myth greedy landlords.
All I can say is that shelter must have 1 hell of a sales team, or, they just don't tell the truth to these organisations that support them
Both!
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