Shelternet (www.shelternet.org.uk) was developed in partnership with high-street bank Halifax. Promotional posters and cards for the housing difficulties information site will appear in UK branches of Halifax, Shelter's centres and libraries.
A spokeswoman for Shelter said that the charity's phone helpline has received more than 250,000 calls in the past three years. "We want people to realise that Shelter can help anyone facing a housing crisis and not just the homeless,
she said. "The aim is to get people talking to us sooner, which could stop them losing their home."
The charity plans to target local government later this year by launching a site that aims to help local authorities implement the 2002 Homelessness Act - legislation that requires local government to put safeguards in place to prevent homelessness.
Housing officers visiting the site (www.homelessnessact.org.uk) will be able to contact Shelter staff for advice on the Act via email or online discussion forums.
Shelter also plans to launch a site for its housing magazine ROOF this month (www.ROOFmag.org.uk). A further site (www.housemate.org.uk) will aim to offer housing information to younger users.
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