Secure and Suitable Housing

Peter's account on how safehouses can be unsafe

A survivor told me that the first time they were put in a safehouse it wasn’t in any way safe for them. They were mistreated, there was racial discrimination, lack of support, no provision of interpreters or translation. They suffered from other residents who were homophobic.

I know myself that discrimination against LGBTQIA people can be far less outside certain safehouses compared to being inside certain safehouses – there are people of various backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, and there is no overriding policy or person telling them clearly not to discriminate. It was so sad because this survivor ended up going back to his traffickers, back into sexual exploitation.

Safety should be guaranteed in the so-called safehouses. It is particularly unsafe for the houses to also be for people who are not victims of trafficking, which can create risks of re-trafficking. For example, survivors may share with others who are brought in who may be drug dealers or people running away from people they owe money. When they get into the safehouse, they don’t stop whatever they are doing – for example, they may carry on selling drugs. Some have all this money, and if you are a vulnerable person, they can recruit you into the ‘job’ they are doing.

Ruth's account on basic standards required for survivors' accommodation

For a safehouse to be ‘safe’, it should be safe enough for that survivor to have piece of mind. I think that is one of the most important things.

I have come across a lot of survivors who are in, and have been in safehouses, and the most heartbreaking thing they always talk about is the lack of piece of mind. Secure, suitable housing – a survivor should be able to go into their room, sleep and feel safe and get the right amount of sleep that they need, that any human being deserves to have at night.

If a female survivor is being taken to a safehouse, let it be a female-only safehouse. Let it be secure enough that if a survivor has a query, or if they have to clarify certain things about their safety, they should feel confident and have no fear of anything being used against them – actually being able to ask questions and being able to speak.

Secure and suitable housing means being able to have a shower in a clean bathroom, being able to cook their meals in a clean, adequate, hygienic kitchen. A survivor should be able to eat comfortably, with piece of mind, without having to see mice running around, or having to prepare themselves with hand-sanitiser without touching the handles in the safehouse or the accommodation they have been given. If a survivor goes to the council they should get something that meets the basic standard for any human.

Brook's account on the differences between two safehouses

I was in a safe house where they accommodated men and women all together. A lot of crime takes place in there - there are other perpetrators living with you. One man in there had served 2 years in prison for a stabbing. He was taking drugs, bringing in girlfriends - it wasn't a safe house at all for me. Another man was dealing in stolen cars, and he brought in different women - one of the women threatened to harm us.

The conditions were filthy with unwashed and stained bed linen. The Manager and Support worker offered no help - if I asked they would just say they couldn't do anything, and they were afraid of the Home Office finding out. They told me to 'put it in writing' but I didn't have the vision for writing due to my health condition - they knew this but wouldn't help me to write it.

Two women and five men, and it was called a safe house - the men were notorious criminals. If you complain you are treated like a criminal yourself. The manager didn't even come to say hello after I became ill and had to stay in hospital - I wasn't eating because I was scared to go to the kitchen because of the violence - a man had been violent to me in the kitchen. I wasn't protected at all.

Eventually my doctor enabled me to be moved on health grounds, they were worried. I got help as well from another organisation. In my new accommodation I am no longer crying everyday and I can get some sleep. When I entered the room, there was a towel, toiletries, clean bedding.

I opened the drawer and found some clothes there, shower gel and sponges and facecloth. There was nothing provided at the previous house at all, not even cooking utensils or pots to cook in. The residents are all women here - I talk to them, we laugh, we are in the kitchen, we taste each other's food and eat together. Once a month we go to the main office to collect different types of items: clothes, shoes, coats, toys, curtains, toiletries, beddings, paintings you name it all for free and at the other safehouse residents got nothing.

Around Christmas in the new safe house we received Christmas hampers, £30 Asda vouchers each and a large Christmas gift bag with a gown, plus toiletries, gloves etc. Last year was my first Christmas in the new safe house and I was overwhelmed with the presents I received because I have never in my entire life received so many gifts before. I am very grateful to the management of my new safehouse, they know how to make you feel loved and accepted in society.