From eviction to a safe home – Julie’s journey with Shelter

Thanks to you, we’re here to listen

Our helpline advisers give expert advice and support to hundreds of people facing homelessness and unfit housing. When people like Julie reach out to us, your support means they never have to fight their corner alone.

Julie had always paid her rent on time, so she was stunned when a section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice came through her door. We’ve since successfully campaigned for an end to these notices, but at the time Julie found out, there was an issue with her guarantor. Not knowing what to do next, she called Shelter.

Facing unsafe housing offers

Julie and her daughter had to move to temporary accommodation. Five months later, they were offered a basement council flat. But it was a long way from her daughter’s school and close to her ex-partner, where she wouldn’t have felt safe, so she turned it down.

Councils have a duty to provide safe housing that’s close to schools and workplaces. But because Julie had turned the property down, she was made to leave the temporary accommodation. She remembers:

I called the Shelter helpline lots and lots of times. They were the only ones who listened and gave me the right guidance. When I went to the council, because Shelter had explained everything, I was able to stand my ground.

Spare rooms and new hope

Julie is a health-care assistant, but had to leave her job because of her housing insecurity. Her only choice was to pay for hotel rooms for her and her daughter on her credit card, which left her in debt. Eventually, Julie was offered a temporary flat for private rent. It was filthy and in a terrible condition, but Julie made it as homely as she could.

Then, six months later, she was finally offered a social home near her daughter’s school. Today, Julie is settled and happy. She’s working in health care again, and her daughter is working in a children’s home.

‘If you haven’t got a home, you’ve got nothing to build on,’ Julie says, looking back on the years she spent fighting for her housing rights.

Our broken social housing system must be fixed. Until it is, you’re side-by-side with everyone who finds hope after contacting our helpline.

*Julie’s name has been changed to protect her identity