Who should read this: Generally Ex-Muslims in UK who are already homeless or at risk of being so, although Ex-Muslims living in other parts of the world will find some information helpful.

Image Credit: Martha Rosler, Housing Is a Human Right, Times Square Spectacolor sign, New York

Being threatened with homelessness in UK:

If you are an Ex-Muslim in UK who has just been threatened with homelessness as a result of confessing to your family or partner that you have left the Islamic faith, this is likely to be an instance of domestic violence. According to UK law, this could incorporate controlling and coercive behaviour if anyone is pressurising you to live a certain lifestyle against your will and punishing you by removing you from their house. If this is the case and you feel you are in immediate danger, leave the property immediately and call 999.

Being threatened with homelessness will be a difficult time of your life and you will often feel isolated and as if you are the only Ex-Muslim in this situation. However, you are not alone. Ex-Muslims dealing with homelessness is not a new phenomenon. Although resources available to help Ex-Muslims are not readily available or frequently heard of, you can be anonymous and engage with a growing community of Ex-Muslims on Reddit who can give you good advice.

Reddit –> A Boston Ex-Muslim threatened with homelessness — https://www.reddit.com/r/exmuslim/comments/6scdlm/im_gonna_go_homeless_on_the_streets_of_boston/

Reddit –> Another Ex-Muslim discussion on the risk of being homeless — https://www.reddit.com/r/exmuslim/comments/2j8fam/to_be_homeless/

If you came out to your family/parents as Ex-Muslims and facing constant criticism, certain aggressive behaviour and feel like you will soon be told to leave the property, you can start planning to take some steps to find emergency accommodation and prepare for any such crisis.

1) If you are disabled and require specific support — Register yourself in the Accessible Housing Register (AHR). It can help identify your needs and match you with accommodation based on your suitability. Some useful contacts below —

· Wales:

· England, and Scotland:

2) Write to your local MP. Explain with a concise and clear email the context of the situation you are facing and the support you need. If you have children, explain it to them as both you and your children will need legal assistance and possibly, protection. A member from your MP’s office will generally write back to you within 2 to 4 working weeks. It will also alert them to support other Ex-Muslims in your area who are at similar risk. Find your local MP here: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

3) The Women’s Aid has published a Survivor’s Handbook with useful tips and contact information. Read it, even if you do not identify as a woman.

4) If you have a trusted friend or relative’s house where you can take immediate shelter, keep their address private. Prepare a small bag containing few clothes, cash, medicine and copies of following items and leave it with them so that in case you are removed from your existing house without warning and your abusers lock your valuable possessions and then destroy them, you have a copy of them –

Your passport/immigration paper

Marriage/academic certificate

Driving license

Birth certificate

Any legal document where your ownership to properties/assets are stated

Document stating businesses/shares you own

Bank details

gold/precious jewelery (if you are married and they are your asset)

You can also scan these items and upload them on secured cloud folders such as Dropbox, One Drive, and Google Drive.

5) Find your local authority/council here — https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council. Contact them either by phone or in person. Importantly, get into your local council’s housing register — https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-council-housing

6) Find your local homeless advisor provided by charity Shelter, they will be able to give you more tailored information — http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_services_directory

If you are already homeless in UK:

1) Find a nightshelter — they provide temporary one-night accommodation, generally for young people aged 16–25. You can either get in touch with them via Shelter here — https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/temporary_housing_if_youre_homeless/nightshelters or

Use the Homeless Link’s website — you can find nightshelters nearest to your postcode à http://www.homeless.org.uk/search-homelessness-services

2) Use Homeless Link’s website to find an emergency shelter — http://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/search?search_api_views_fulltext=&field_homeless_link_member=All

3) If you have certain health conditions, such as speaking difficulties, asthma, migraine etc. and you are too ill and there is no one to help you, it is best you address your health concerns first. Find your local NHS Urgent Care Service — http://www.nhs.uk/service-search/Urgent-Care/LocationSearch/0. Explain it to them your health has deteriorated as a result of being homeless and it would get worse. They should be able to refer you via their contact list. They can also take action to contact the police if you are too ill and suffered domestic abuse.

You can find more information on Homelessness here — https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/finding-a-place-to-live/finding-accommodation/#h-help-for-homeless-people

Whether you are a male or a female Ex-Muslim facing domestic abuse that can cause you to become homeless, these pages by Citizen Advice Bureau have helpful information — https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/gender-violence/domestic-violence-and-abuse-organisations-which-give-information-and-advice/ , and https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/gender-violence/domestic-violence-and-abuse/