‘Kate’ came to the Haven, our safe space for women in Cambridge city centre, in the summer 2025 due to mould in her flat (an ongoing issue unaddressed due to communication breakdown with her landlord). She was living outside her flat for most of the day and night, when possible, as the conditions posed a significant threat to her physical and mental well-being.
Kate’s family members all live abroad, and her health issues included limited mobility which made attending medical appointments challenging. She had also accrued some significant debt from hotel and taxi bills. In addition to her physical disabilities, Kate also struggles with her mental health, which was quite severe when she first came to the Haven.
‘I was in a dark place when I first came here, but the Haven has given me hope. I was treated like a human here, not a statistic.’
Kate has received support from staff at the Haven, helping to manage her affairs such as attending medical appointments. She has had access to the space to shower, do washing, and enjoy the company of our team and other women.
