Zahra's story

After Zahra's marriage broke down, she was placed into a hotel with her children as part of her local authority's homelessness procedure. The hotel was infested with bedbugs and cockroaches which prompted Zahra to contact Crisis. With the help of her leadworker, Sophie, Zahra and her family were able to make a new start and leave homelessness behind for good. Zahra shares her story.

"I was told going into the hotel is what happens when you go through the homeless procedure. It wasn't going into the hotel that was the issue for me, it was the conditions there. On the first day, we noticed a cockroach and they moved us. Then a couple of days later we noticed another one.

"I started to realise it's not just one room, it’s the whole hotel.

"One of the rooms we went into had bedbugs. I literally ended up getting completely attacked. I had an allergic reaction and my whole body broke out in massive red blotches.

"My daughter got bit on her face and that really upset me because she had to go to school. She had other bites on her and I just felt terrible.

"They started to affect me how I never thought a bug would. I started to itch. My eyes started playing tricks on me. It made me feel dirty. And it really affected my daughter too. It's not very nice to live in that environment.

"We didn't get the support we needed from the council or the hotel manager. After six months or so at the hotel, this is what pushed me to contact Crisis.

“I contacted Crisis because I was feeling a little bit lost and extremely frustrated at constant reoccurring situations within where I was. I felt like, due to the fact I didn’t really know Birmingham that well, it would be good to have someone who maybe was more accustomed to the council or even the whole homeless process or families, as well as my situation. Having a marital breakdown was already quite difficult.

“I felt like I needed support in a few different areas. My first interaction with Crisis was a little nerve-racking. It’s always difficult explaining your situation to people.

"Sophie was assigned as my lead worker and she was lovely. I was nervous when we had our first meeting but she was really relaxed. She encouraged me to relax. We just talked through some of the issues I was having.

"She sent quite a few emails to the temporary housing officer, and she basically worked like an advocate. And I felt it was almost like a support network.

“Sophie was also supporting me about contacting my MP, which I did.

“I’ve just moved into rented accommodation so my main focus right now is just getting myself a little bit organised. It is a very nice home. I've been unpacking, and organising the children’s room. I’m also doing a lot of cleaning!

“The support that Crisis offers is very good. I love the fact that it’s holistic so it’s not just saying, “We’re going to help you with your housing,” they also support you with education, wellbeing and your health.

"I would like people to know that it will get better.”