SINCE the Covid restrictions began to lift in June 2021, Shelter’s emergency helpline has been inundated with nearly 90 calls a day from people in the South West, new data reveals.

More than 5,400 callers from the South West rang the charity’s free helpline, which is part funded by M&S Food, in urgent need of support and advice between June and October 2021.

Of those calling 76 per cent were already homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Vital Covid protections, such as the evictions ban, were critical in keeping thousands of people safe in their homes.

But as they have gradually wound down and living costs have shot up thousands of people have been contacting the housing charity for help.

One in four callers (23 per cent) needed urgent help to find temporary accommodation and one in three callers (30 per cent) needed help to try and keep hold of their current home.

With the latest government figures showing a household becomes homeless every four minutes, Shelter is warning a difficult winter lies ahead for its services at the frontline of the housing emergency.

Its dedicated team of helpline advisers are preparing to answer calls from huge numbers of people facing homelessness and hardship in the months to come.

Andrea Deakin, helpline manager at Shelter, said: “The last year has been hard, and 2022 is going to be just as tough.

"Now Covid protections have ended and living costs are soaring, we’re answering calls from thousands of people in the South West who are homeless or about to be.”

One of the reasons Shelter can keep its emergency helpline open 365 days a year is through its longstanding partnership with M&S Food.

A percentage of every sale from M&S’s festive Food on the Move range, including Christmas sandwiches, goes directly towards the emergency helpline.