Birmingham Women’s Charity Warns of Urgent Need for Safe Accommodation Amid Housing Crisis

A Birmingham women’s charity has warned that the city is facing an acute shortage of safe accommodation for women escaping abusive situations, with many struggling to find refuge amid an ongoing housing crisis.

Alice Rosenthal, from Anawim — a charity supporting women affected by abuse — described the situation as “incredibly hard” for women seeking safe and stable housing.

“Birmingham is in a housing crisis,” Alice said. “There’s been closing down of hostels and shelters. The women’s only hostel in Moseley was converted into mixed sex, which has had a direct effect on some of the women we work with.”

She also highlighted the issue of “exempt accommodation,” where women are sometimes placed in unsuitable properties alongside other tenants, raising safety concerns.

“It’s very, very hard. If you’re a woman who’s got children, it becomes harder to find somewhere safe to live. There’s not enough refuge places,” Alice explained. “If you’re a working woman but need refuge, that just doesn’t exist. There’s no refuge for working women.”

The crisis extends beyond accommodation. Alice spoke of the challenges women face leaving prison, where only 40% are released into settled accommodation. The number of women released homeless is increasing, with some reportedly given tents upon release due to a lack of safe housing.

“Without a safe home, it’s really hard to rebuild the rest of your life,” she said.

Alice also outlined the complex, interconnected needs of the women seeking help. “Mental health needs, financial needs, and abuse remain the top three presenting issues,” she said. “These things are linked. You’re not just someone surviving domestic abuse or a mental health crisis — it’s often all of these things together.”

She emphasised the holistic approach of women’s centres like Anawim, which aim to support all these challenges under one roof.

However, significant gaps remain in services. Waiting times for counselling and other support often exceed six months, and there is inconsistency in the training of first responders who initially engage with victims.

Alice expressed hope that recent changes in sentencing laws, which aim to reduce short prison sentences for women and increase community-based support, will bring some relief. However, she stressed that “more funding is always needed” to meet the rising demand.

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