Shelter's 'Vertical Rush' highlights London repossession crisis

Government statistics released this month reveal that nearly 14,000 homes in London are at risk of being repossessed. So Shelter has launched its Vertical Rush event to raise money to help families struggling to keep a roof over their head.

Vertical Rush will challenge 1,500 people to race up the 920 stairs of skyscraper Tower 42 in London on March 5. The goal is to raise more than £300,000 to help keep Shelter’s advice services running.

Figures released this month show that 13,911 London households received a possession claim from their mortgage lender or landlord in the last three months of 2012. The number of rented homes facing eviction in London has risen by 25 per cent since 2009.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Flatlining wages and rising housing costs mean that more and more families are struggling to keep a roof over their head, and turning to Shelter for support when the worst happens. In these tough times, demand for our help is higher than ever. Vertical Rush is a vital opportunity for us to boost our funds to make sure that we can reach more people who need our help.”