Shelter.

In July 2009 Shelter and Legal & General started working together with the aim of raising awareness to Legal & General staff and partners of the devastating human impact of housing need, and to raise money to support Shelter’s work with homeless and badly housed people. Housing is central to what both Shelter and Legal & General do. We are aware that for every person Legal & General helps to buy or rent a property, there is someone else living in fear of eviction or repossession, and many thousands more who have no permanent place to call home.

We live in one of the richest countries in the world, yet millions of people in Britain wake up every day in housing that is temporary, overcrowded, or dangerous. Many others have lost their home altogether. Bad housing robs us of security, health, and a fair chance in life.

Shelter believes everyone should have a home. Shelter helps more than 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. Shelter also tackles the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies, and solutions.

Mr Smith worked for a major distribution company and lost his job after injuring his back. He fell behind with mortgage payments and the lender threatened legal action to evict him and his wife from their property. He was suicidal with the thought of losing his job and his home. At the initial interview at Shelter Milton Keynes, one of the Shelter adviser took details of the debts and the housing problem. She then put together a payment plan for the mortgage and all the Smiths’ other debts. The adviser contacted the lender, and prepared a letter for court. The adviser attended court with Mr Smith to negotiate a delay in proceedings to give Mr Smith time to find work and for Shelter to sort out his repayments. This was granted. He said: ‘What the adviser did for me I can never forget – she saved my house and gave me a new lease of life. She is an angel’. Shelter is still involved with this case to help ensure Mr and Mrs Smith can maintain their payments and keep their home.

Visit shelter.org.uk to join our campaign, find housing advice, or make a donation.