ella’s story

When Ella reached out to akt, she was estranged from her family after experiencing transphobic abuse in the family home.  

At the time, Ella was sofa surfing at friends’ houses after her tenancy at university halls ended.  

how akt supported ella*:

When Ella reached out to her local council for housing support, they advised her to her to move back to her family’s home, which was more than 100 miles away from where she was living.  

Ella had been subjected to transphobic attacks in her family’s hometown. She did not feel safe living there, but with nowhere else to turn, Ella felt her only choice was to return.  

Concerned for her own safety, after spending just a few hours in her family’s hometown, Ella decided to use the last of her money to travel back to her university town and continue sofa surfing. It was at this point that she reached out to akt.  

Through akt, Ella was assigned a case worker who spoke to the council on her behalf. After speaking to Ella’s caseworker, the council provided Ella with accommodation at a B&B whilst she awaited temporary accommodation. 

After spending 3 months in temporary accommodation, akt supported Ella in securing a tenancy on a house in her university town. akt paid for carpets to be fitted in Ella’s new home.  

Ella is now living safely in an area she knows well, surrounded by a support system of friends who all live nearby.  

*Ella’s name has been changed to protect her identity, but her story is real.