Room for All: Race, Shelter, and the Power of Stories Event Summary

When we think back to our childhood memories, we often picture home. Home is the foundation of so many things: our education, health, relationships, sense of dignity, and community.

Photo credit: HoneyKids Asia

That’s why it’s quite worrying how stark the UK housing crisis is. And it’s not very difficult to prove so – Awaab Ishak was a two-year old Sudanese British toddler who died in 2020 due to a severe mould infestation in his council home. Due to his death, Awaab’s Law has been created which means landlords must respond to address damp, mould, and emergency repairs within strict, fixed timeframes and comes into effect today.

Our event, Room for All, was held at Lift Islington on Thursday 16 October and we dedicated the event to Awaab’s Law. The event focused on what safe housing should look like and how stories can be translated into meaningful recommendations for policymakers.

Awaab’s lawyer, Christian Weaver, described Awaab’s story as profoundly shaping him due to the sheer multitude of intersecting societal and systemic issues it exposed is the inquest: racism, classism, health, xenophobia, regional disparities and the importance of protecting children who are the most vulnerable members in society. 

We all know someone with a story related to housing challenges – and many of these stories may be our own and reflect systemic inequalities. Dr Nikita Simpson, Dr Liz Storer and Dr Suad Dale created a short film* about the experiences of Somali woman in Birmingham which was met with a round of applause from the audience.

'Centring housing distress requires listening to people’s own accounts of their experiences, in the language, discursive genres, and cultural or creative media that are meaningful to them’. – Dr Nikita Simpson, Dr Liz Storer and Dr Suad Dale.

The film centred Somali women and their personal stories of how finding a home evokes historic experiences of multiple displacements. Their stories explored themes of children spending their formative years in unstable accommodation, the effects of damp and unsafe housing on health, and the wider impacts on bodily distress and mental wellbeing.

One story that struck was how a Somali mother had to hold the umbrella over her child using the toilet because of ceiling leaks. Or a Sudanese person who experienced a hate crime by being threatened with a rottweiler in temporary accommodation, only for the person to be returned to the same accommodation.

“Hoyoo in my language [Somali] means home – the home of the mother. It’s your first house. So, when you’re calling your mum, you’re not just saying ‘mum,’ you’re saying, ‘my home.’” – Dr Suad Dale.

The video spotlighted how the housing crisis is not a practical problem, but a moral failing created by decades of government neglect and disinvestment, systemic neglect, hostile environments, discrimination. It was only since the Race Relations Act in 1968 was it made illegal to refuse housing to someone based on their race, colour, or national origin in the UK. But we need to go further – the housing crisis must also consider cultural values, such as intergenerational living in Bengali families, who often face overcrowding.

On reflection, our audience were tasked with designing their own neighbourhoods. While housing discussions often focus on quantifiable goals like building more homes, it is equally important to consider urban infrastructure: access to green spaces, walkable streets, cycle lanes, GPs, reliable transport, and affordable supermarkets. Research shows that new developments often lack some of these essential services and needs, limiting community wellbeing. Our audience emphasised safe green spaces and improved street lighting, which is particularly important for women navigating public areas.

Photo credit: Freepik – pikisuperstar

Lennina Ofari, CEO of Supported Housing Company, presented her ‘True be Told’ segment by sharing her own story from her own housing struggles as a young Black girl to becoming a CEO. She also stressed on the importance of recognising intersectionality in housing policies.

Lennina powerfully emphasised how personal housing and sharing stories are. She also noted the importance of qualitative research and how stories can lead to meaningful connections. However, with those connections comes responsibility. It’s just as important that people sharing their stories feel safe and protected, and that those listening, like teachers, carers, social workers, and others in civil society, are also supported, since hearing traumatic experiences can take an emotional toll.

At Voice4Change England, we will continue to advocate for safe housing needs for all – particularly those who feel invisible and sidelined.

In memory of Awaab Ishak (2018–2020) whose story changed housing law.

Article notes:

• Awaab’s Law comes into fruition on October 27 2025, meaning your social housing landlord must respond to address damp, mould, and emergency repairs within strict, fixed timeframes. Read more here.

• You can read Dr Nikita Simpson, Dr Liz Storer and Dr Suan Dale’s research papers here, including Listening to Housing Distress: A methodology for understanding housing and mental health in context, Hostile environments: Mould, race and blame amidst Birmingham's housing crisis and ‘Fighting him’: Following distress in hostile housing regimes.

• Purchase Lennina Ofari’s book ‘Advocate’ here.

• View our free toolkit which offers resources, information, support and recommendations with housing.

* We will share Dr Nikita Simpson, Dr Liz Storer and Dr Suad Dale’s film on the experiences of Somali women in Birmingham on our website and social media platforms once the final version has been received.

This project is under the Horizons London Programme, a 10-year project funded by the Anchor Fund which focuses on health, housing, education and environment racial disparities. Read more here.