Next Monday (February 3) Anawim’s Accommodation Caseworker will be making a bed outside for the night to raise awareness of the many issues around women’s housing.
Aneesa Akbar is joining Lianne Kirkman from the Esther Project on one of her 10 nights sleeping rough. They’ll be completing the challenge at their centre in Balsall Heath, in Birmingham.
Problems with housing affect the majority of women who come through Anawim’s doors. Insecure housing, exempt HMOs meaning women are sharing with potentially violent men, the change of Helen Dixon House in Moseley to be mixed sex: all are having an effect.
Now “kettle only” food bank parcels will be provided for the increasing number of women housed in hotels and similar short-term accommodation.
Street homeless women who choose to take their chances outside in the elements rather than sleep inside somewhere they feel are increasingly being seen and is more dangerous. The proportion of women released from prison into homelessness is increasing too, up now to 13%.
It is also known that domestic abuse is the second most common cause of homelessness in Birmingham, with less than a third of women and children seeking refuge in an emergency could access refuge accommodation.
Aneesa said: “Insecure and unsafe housing is a massive issue for the women who come into our centre. I hope this sleepout will make more people consider the risks some women have to take every day.”
For anyone who wants to support Aneesa, and her work, can sponsor her at https://www.justgiving.com/page/aneesa-akbar1737571949331
