Women's Homelessness - Black Country Womens Aid

Being homeless doesn't mean you're helpless

You may feel stuck and like things can’t change, or that nobody can help you, or like you don’t know what help is available to you.

It might feel difficult to accept help, especially if you have felt judged or let down in the past. We want you to know that we will believe you, that we will support you to find a safe home and rebuild your life.

You may eventually need support in managing your tenancy and managing your money, and we will ensure you have support around this. You may become ready for work or return to education, you may be ready to learn new skills to help you thrive, and we will ensure you have access to this too.

You may want your independence and become self-reliant, and The Willow Project will work with you to
make this happen.

We will believe you. We will listen to you, support you and give you time and space to decide what you want to do. We won’t judge you because of what you say or force you to make a decision you do not want to make.

We provide you with a package of support that is unique to you, and give you the information you need so that you can take your next steps.

Black Country Women’s Aid changed my life. I can’t ever thank them enough. I have so much gratitude. No judgement ever, they just listened and helped. They have no idea how much they’ve made my life better. I’m eternally grateful. Thank you thank you thank you!

We know this can happen to anybody

Homelessness is complex and can mean:

Sleeping rough
Hidden homeless, eg sofa surfing,
staying with friends
In supported housing
In refuge or homeless accommodation
Vulnerably housed
At risk of homelessness

Anyone can become homeless, regardless of their social background, age, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.

How can the Willow Project support you?

Homelessness Outreach Workers

A Homelessness Outreach Worker will support you in finding somewhere safe to live. This support isn’t time-limited and can include:

Listening to you and being there for you
Outreach support
Advice and support planning tailored to your needs, discussing a range of options with you and enabling you to make choices
Assessing your risk level and developing safety plans with you including practical steps for protection to keep you and your children safe
Signposting and assisting access to other agencies who can help e.g. sexual health, drug/alcohol misuse, immigration, counselling and housing
Access to interpreting services if you need them

Group programmes

Black Country Women’s Aid provides a package of support for women, which includes in-house group work programmes.
Our range of group programmes offer emotional support, help with life skills, coping strategies, relationships and parenting.
Black Country Women’s Aid also offers the Freedom Programme as a free 12-week programme open to any woman, whether she is in or has left an abusive relationship, including women who do not plan to leave their partner.

About the Willow Project

The Willow Project offers trauma-informed support, which means we are trained and knowledgeable about domestic abuse and stalking, sexual violence, sexual exploitation and modern slavery, and complex needs, such as offending.

As part of our service offer we also deliver training and this is available to professionals across the Black Country.

Getting in touch

If you are a woman in the Black Country, either homeless or at risk of homelessness, you may be referred to The Willow Project by a professional (such as police, health or refuge workers), or you can self-refer by calling or emailing us.

The Willow Project supports women over the age of 18 in Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall.

Phone Email

Willow Project