advice session, giving somebody
the support they need to find, and
keep, a home.
answer six urgent calls each year
to our helpline, often the first port
of call for people in housing need.
As long as homelessness exists,
WE WON’T STOP…
For almost 45 years, we’ve been fighting for HOME. It’s a human right, and we won’t stop until everyone in Wales has access to a safe, secure, suitable and genuinely affordable place to call ‘home’.
It’s not a small task, but we’re dedicated to achieving it. We couldn’t continue to be there for all the people who need us without your support.
But our work is far from over…
Home is where we put down roots, feel stable and look towards a brighter future full of hope. Our colleagues work tirelessly to provide free, confidential and independent advice and support to anyone whose home is at risk, in poor condition or if home is something a person needs, but doesn’t have.
Rachel* called our urgent helpline when she was threatened with homelessness along with her two young children. Like many people in Wales, Rachel had fallen behind with her rent. The prospect of losing her home was causing Rachel and her daughters severe anxiety, affecting their everyday life.
Abi is a Caseworker at Shelter Cymru. Like all our colleagues, she is passionate and dedicated to helping people to find – and keep – a home.
Abi supported Rachel by liaising with relevant third parties on her behalf, taking away the obvious strain of dealing with the threat of homelessness alone. Abi also progressed grants that were available, and other ways that Rachel may be able to improve her family’s financial situation. The rent arrears were cleared and Rachel and her children were able to stay in their home, knowing they are better able to afford their day-to-day cost of living in the future – thanks to Abi’s help.
“I would like to thank you so much for listening and helping me and my two daughters when everyone else saw me as a case, a job, or a number.
You treated us so kindly and have managed to help us keep our home in the space of 2 weeks …. I’ve managed to start sleeping and getting my appetite back, the girls are happier, we have even been getting up early going to breakfast club in school, from telling their friends we are leaving to letting them have three friends sleepover this weekend and start enjoying our home again.
We are looking forward to making more memories here now! We thank you so much for all you have done for us.”
-Rachel
Sadly, Rachel’s story is not unique. Every day, our caseworkers across Wales support people facing similar challenges; people whose lives have been turned upside down by the risk of homelessness.
It shouldn’t be this way.
That’s why we won’t stop working until everyone in Wales has a safe, secure place to call home. But we can’t do it without your continued support. Together, we can be there for people when they need us most.
Last year, we helped 20,820 people through our advice and support services. This is the equivalent of filling the Utilita Arena in Cardiff almost 3 times over. Our caseworkers are working hard to help everyone who needs us, but we’re in the middle of a housing emergency, and many more people need our help.
Regular gifts help us plan for our future, safeguard our support services and ensure people in housing need can access the right help at the right time. By donating regularly, whatever amount you are able to, you are able to help people find – and keep – a home.
Will you please consider giving a monthly gift, and help us to be there for more people like Rachel?
If regular giving isn’t the right option for you, you can still make an impact with a one-off donation. Every gift, whatever the size, helps us to be there for people in housing need.
*Name has been changed to protect identity
FIGHT FOR HOME
We exist to defend the right to a safe home, because home is everything.
The fight to end the housing emergency starts here.
How you fuel the fight for home
We couldn’t do this without you. For every £1 we receive:
- 89p is spent directly on helping people through advice, support, campaigning and training
- 11p is spent on fundraising to generate the next £1
To learn more about how we’ve helped, please visit our impact page.
For every £1 we receive
Other ways to support Shelter Cymru
Need help with your donation?
Contact [email protected]
