Ms A is a woman in her 40’s who was found sleeping rough in Norwich city centre during a Pathways Street count. She had a tenancy with Norwich City Council, which she had maintained for a few years up until recently. She was cuckooed (a form of exploitation where individuals take over the home of a vulnerable person to use it for criminal activity, often linked to drug supply). Her home was full of other people’s possessions, and her home was used by others for sex work, drug dealing and drug use.
The address became associated with antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. The police were called regularly, and a closure order was placed on her property. Ms. A had felt unsafe returning to her property and started sleeping in doorways in Norwich, placing herself at an increased risk of harm, exploitation, and risk of deterioration in physical and mental health.
Ms. A’s tenancy remained legally active, limiting her eligibility for alternative housing options and causing her to build up debt on unpaid rent.
Ms. A has complex support needs including long-term substance use, physical health conditions, including a recurring cancer diagnosis. In addition, her mental health was deteriorating, plus she had a history of domestic abuse and trauma.
How Pathways helped
Pathways Outreach Workers met with Ms A regularly, offering consistent non-judgmental support. Engagement focused first on her immediate safety, welfare and basic needs. The Pathways team established trust and rapport with Ms A and she was then helped to address her tenancy situation. They accompanied her to an appointment with Norwich City Council to advocate on her behalf, emphasising that prior to cuckooing, she was managing her tenancy well. Ms. A’s tenancy was ended in a managed way, preventing further arrears. This enabled her to have access to other housing options.
Ms A moved to Bishopbridge House, a hostel run by St Martins with a trauma-informed environment, where she has a support worker to help her access substance use services. She now has a stable base on which to build her confidence and trust to work towards independent living in the future.