Rahena’s story
You never think it will happen to you. I had this flat. It was in a rundown bit of town with a fair bit of vandalism and graffiti and stuff, and the landlord was really dodgy. But I loved my flat, I really did. I spent a lot of time decorating it and making it nice inside. You’d never believe it was so welcoming behind the smashed up front door. It always smelled of coffee and spices and I had lots of plants and cushions. It was great to go back to it after a long day.
But then I lost my job and I couldn’t pay my rent. I tried to talk to the landlord but his attitude was ‘get out’. He wasn’t interested in housing benefit or anything like that. I said I would get another job, but one day when I was out looking for work I came back to find three men in my flat. They said they lived there now and they pushed me out on to the street. All my belongings were still inside. They just helped themselves. But that was my home. The landlord turned up and said that if I told anyone, the three men would kill me. I believed him.
I went to stay with my family and I got another job. I’m ok now. But I miss my flat. I wonder if they ever water the plants.