“I had a home, but I never felt safe in it. Leaving was terrifying, but thanks to akt, I finally have a chance to rebuild my life.”
Alys, a 23-year-old non-binary and pansexual person from the South-West, grew up in a deeply Christian household where their identity was never accepted. Their mother, a Sunday school teacher, instilled strong religious values, and coming out as bisexual at 15 led to escalating tensions at home. With a father who had already been abusive, Alys found themselves navigating an increasingly hostile environment, facing both emotional and physical distress.
At 19, Alys came out as non-binary to their father, who dismissed their identity entirely, insisting that only men and women exist. Their situation at home deteriorated further, leaving them feeling “emotionally homeless”—physically present in a house, but never truly safe. A few months later, their father, in a drunken outburst, outed Alys to the entire family during a Sunday dinner. Feeling completely unsafe, they grabbed what little they could carry and fled to their partner’s house.
Unfortunately, this new home was not a refuge. Their partner became increasingly coercive and abusive, but Alys felt trapped with no alternatives. They endured months of mistreatment before seeking help through a college counsellor, who guided them in applying for homeless status with the local council. However, their case was initially rejected due to a lack of documented evidence of abuse from their father or partner, leaving Alys without access to secure housing.
For months, Alys relied on the kindness of friends, moving from one sofa to another while struggling with their mental health. Eventually, an akt worker stepped in to help appeal the council’s decision. With akt’s support, Alys was granted temporary accommodation and placed on waiting lists for both autism diagnosis and mental health services. Though they are still waiting for long-term housing, they now have a path forward—one that akt helped them find.