Our Culturally Specific Support Worker Kalwant works with people from minoritised ethnic communities who find themselves homeless. She supports people to look for and sustain tenancies, helping them to recover from their experience of homelessness.

29-year-old Hafsa* has two children. She had been living with her father, but when their relationship broke down, she felt she had no choice but to leave the family home.

Her temporary accommodation arrangements meant she was travelling between different hotels whilst working part-time, often not knowing which area they’d be staying in that night. Hafsa’s five-year-old daughter attends a Special Educational Needs School for children with autism and it was becoming increasingly difficult to travel there. Hafsa had been diagnosed with depression and was finding the situation incredibly hard to deal with. The family had nowhere to call home. Her children were struggling with living in one bedroom and their behaviour was deteriorating, causing further stress for Hafsa.

Hafsa was being supported by Pathway Housing Solutions, who referred her to Kalwant. Kalwant met up with Hafsa and immediately started working to find appropriate, long-term accommodation for the family. Kalwant gave her a lot of emotional support, as she needed someone who would listen and empathise.

Kalwant found a two-bedroom flat that would also provide the family with a support worker who would help with her housing needs. Two weeks after they visited the flat, Hafsa and her children moved in. Kalwant continues to help Hafsa to maintain her tenancy, supporting with her council tax, providing further emotional support and finding funding to help furnish the flat.

With Kalwant’s support throughout the process, Hafsa is in a much more settled environment and her mental health has improved. Her children have their own room and the family finally have their own space. The children attend a school that is much closer to where they live, which has helped them settle into a routine. Their behaviour at home and at school has improved.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

You can read more about Kalwant’s work on our project page.

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