WOMEN'S Aid in Birminghum is three and a half years old.
Throughout this time it has been negotiating for a permunent refuge — WEET CHEESS Last week, in exasperation, they occupied a Council-owned house that had been standing empty for two years London has 25 women's refuges and that is inadequate, Birmingham has none at all.
The women were fobbed off with a short-life property for a period, but it had to close in January due to Its awful condition and overcrowding.
It was falling apart around our cars* one of them said.
The social service department ure quite belpful with giving grants, but the housing department completely ignores 1s.
The were terraced house, again short-life, with only enough room for two families.
The Council had told Women's Aid that the previous house was overcrowded, so this offer was simply an Insult.
The house under occopation had been standing empty for two years but when the women moved in the Counci turned of me cocary The Council plans to sell it back to the freeholders, who want it for an American company to build a private hospital on the site.
2S NO 3518 was occupied a woman with five children mored in, despite the conditions, as it was the only way escape the violent situation in her home.
Birminghum Council mest be forced to meet its responsibilities towards batfered women.
Women's Aid will not leave the Socialst Challenge 14 Jume 1979 page 6