More At Risk Of Losing North East Home

The number of people in the North East, at risk of losing their home, has increased by 50% in the last two years.

Last year Shelter spoke to more than 200 people in our region who were struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, or going into debt because of their housing costs. 

Overall, calls to the charity from people in the North East rose by 25% over the same period.

One of those callers was Christine Stephenson from Chester-le-Street in County Durham.

Her husband can no longer work after suffering a serious fall five years ago, leaving him disabled and unable to work, meaning they struggle to meet housing payments.

Christine told Heart: "I paid the mortage company what I could, £20 a month or £50 a month, and then I got threatening phone calls.

One guy rang up and said if I didn't give him £2,000 that day he would get the bailiffs in, the furniture would be removed and I'd be put out on the street."

Every 11 minutes, a family in Britain loses their home.

Over the last year, Shelter's advisers heard from 124,000 people across the country desperately in need of support, but that still left 54,000 calls unanswered.

The charity is urging anyone interested in supporting its helpline as an adviser to get in touch.