The UK’s first women-only tower block is set to open next summer in Acton.
Brook House will act as a lifeline for single women and domestic abuse survivors, who have struggled to find accomodation in the housing crisis.
The block is being built by Women’s Pioneer Housing and will hold 102 flats, with the accommodation set to provide single women with security, and affordable rent.
Ealing Council‘s deputy leader and cabinet member for safe and genuinely affordable homes Louise Brett said: “It’s the relief of knowing that they can close the door, and feel safe and secure, and it’s their own, and that they’re not answerable to anybody but themselves.
“And I think that that is a really, really important thing for anybody, but particularly women that may be vulnerable or have survived a domestic abuse situation.
“Having that fear of homelessness, sofa surfing, having the fear that an ex-partner might be able to find you, having a fear that you will not be able to afford to leave that particular partner because you wouldn’t be able to afford the private rents, and then having the opportunity to be able to have that level of security, somewhere you can call your own.
“There’s nobody that’s going to boot you out, it is yours alone, and I think that there’s something really powerful in being able to empower women into a good secure home.”
The women set to live in the tower block will be put forward by Women’s Pioneer Housing and a selection of women from the council’s waiting list.
The block on Gunnersbury Lane, next to Acton Town Underground station, has been there for the purpose of supporting women since the 1930s and the site has been redeveloped to ensure even more can be supported.
Cllr Brett revealed Ealing Council had 4,000 women present as victims of domestic abuse in one year.
She added male violence against women is an ongoing issue and this type of behaviour must continue to be challenged, stating the important of the various schemeswhich support women who can survive domestic abuse, and have been able to escape the abuse.
Ealing Council are looking at homelessness and rough sleeping strategy to ensure issues of temporary accommodation and homelessness can be tackled as well.
Feature image: Ealing Council
Join the discussion