Community Hub

Housing is one of the most urgent public policy issues in the UK, as it profoundly shapes nearly every aspect of people’s lives, influencing social connections, community participation, access to education, employment opportunities and health outcomes. Women’s experiences of unstable housing are often overlooked. Most women who are homeless have survived domestic abuse. Many face unsafe or unsuitable living conditions, or barriers such as low income, caring responsibilities, and complex housing processes. In Havering, the number of households on the social housing waiting list has risen by more than a third in just two years. Domestic abuse is a major factor, more than double the London average. Too often, women are left with little more than basic advice and no lasting support.