Volunteer takes part in sleepout to raise awareness around women’s housing

A volunteer for Anawim will be making bed outside for the night to raise awareness of the many issues around women’s housing.

Aneesa Akbar (pictured) is joining Lianne Kirkman from the Esther Project on one of her 10 nights sleeping rough, on 3 February.

They’ll be completing the challenge at the Anawim centre in Balsall Heath.

Problems with housing affect the majority of women who come through Anawim’s doors.

Insecure housing, exempt HMOs means women are sharing with potentially violent men.

This issue was further aggravated with the change of Helen Dixon House in Moseley to be mixed sex.

The charity now provide “kettle only” food bank parcels for the increasing number of women housed in hotels and similar short term accommodation.

They have also seen an increase in street homeless women, who choose to take their chances outside in the elements rather than sleep in a place they feel threatened.

The proportion of women released from prison into homelessness is increasing too, up now to 13 per cent.

Domestic abuse is now the second most common cause of homelessness in Birmingham.

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.”

Click here to support Aneesa by visiting her JustGiving page.