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How you helped Hayley to keep fighting
How you helped Hayley to keep fighting
After years fighting housing injustice and seeking a safe family home, Hayley felt like she was running out of options. But teaming up with Shelter helped her find new strength.
Never alone
Hayley has never been afraid to battle injustice. 'I'm very much someone who keeps going,' she says. 'If I know something isn't right, I'll just keep fighting it.'
Years navigating England's broken housing system had taken a big toll, however. The battle started after Hayley and her three young boys moved to be closer to Hayley's mum. Soon after arriving, she was the victim of racist abuse.
'Attacks started coming on the house,' she said.
'A brick was thrown through the window, nearly hitting my child. I've had things robbed. I've been spat at.'
After one attack led to a court case, local police agreed Hayley's family would be safer if they moved to another area nearby. But the local housing authority was slow to respond. Eventually, Hayley was offered a house in an area notorious for crime.
'I'm trying to move to a safe space and it was just somewhere I couldn't live,' she recalls. 'I didn't want to live in fear again.'
Gathering all her strength, Hayley successfully appealed, arguing that the home wasn't right for her family. Just as she thought she was making progress, though, she was offered another house – this time an hour away from her children's school.
'I feel like at that point I was just broken,' she remembers. 'I didn't have the fight in me. That's when I went to Shelter.'
Stronger together
Hayley called our helpline and was put in contact with Zaira from our Legal team. They talked through all the reasons the new home was unsuitable.
Hayley explained that one of her sons has special educational needs and had recently settled at a school for the first time. Moving an hour away would threaten her son's progress, as well as putting Hayley's own mental health at risk.
Together, they prepared to appeal. After hearing this, the local authority reconsidered and then overturned its decision.
Today, Hayley is waiting to find out about a safe, stable home where her whole family can finally live in peace.
'It makes the world of difference when you feel someone's got your back,' she says, when asked about Shelter and supporters like you.
'I'm so grateful because it was such a tough time. It is giving us hope for the future, instead of fear.'
'My message for Shelter supporters? Thank you for listening, for having faith, for fighting our corner.'
- Hayley
*Stock images have been used to protect the family's identity.