Jenny’s story

Jenny and her two young daughters lived like prisoners in their home. After years of domestic violence, the courts had banned Jenny’s violent ex-husband from going near his family, but he repeatedly breached the order, and broke into the house. Jenny’s landlord had also turned aggressive and was threatening the family with eviction.

So on Christmas day last year, they hid themselves away behind heavy, closed curtains.

It was a desperate time for Jenny. Her children had trouble sleeping and suffered terrible nightmares. Jenny tried to make things better for them by taking a part-time job, but in all the confusion, she forgot to notify the council. Her housing benefit was stopped, and the rent arrears built up.

If the family had been evicted, the council might have classified them as voluntarily homeless, and refused to re-house them. Jenny could have been out on the street – and her daughters taken into care.

Thankfully, Shelter was there to help them.

We explained Jenny’s situation to the authorities, and her housing benefit was backdated. We also put pressure on the authorities to find them safe accommodation. And when Jenny discovered that the new property she’d been given was unfit to live in, Shelter made sure that the urgent repairs were made as quickly as possible.

Today, Jenny and her children are living happily in their new home. Every morning, Jenny wakes up and opens the curtains – and she’s looking forward to what will be a very special Christmas.