I was at rock bottom and I'm slowly getting up

11 minutes ago

Martin EastaughBBC News, Oxford

Shelby, not pictured, is one of the first residents at a new house for homeless women

Getty Images A woman is sat on the side of a bed with her back to us. It is a pleasant bedroom with dark green, floral bed covers. She is silhouetted against a window looking out onto a sun-lit tree. — Shelby, not pictured, is one of the first residents at a new house for homeless women

"I was at rock bottom and I'm slowly getting up. I'm not treading water no more, I'm swimming."

Shelby, not her real name, is a resident at a new women-only house in Oxford, which has been bought and refurbished by the charity Homeless Oxfordshire.

It offers formerly homeless women a range of services to support them with their recovery, helping them to become independent and ultimately move into long-term housing.

One of the first residents, Shelby, said: "This is just immense. This is like 10 steps up."

Shelby said being homeless was "terrifying" and the "worst time" in her life.

"I've slept in doorways, I've slept in storage containers, I've slept in an abandoned church as well," she said.

"So given the opportunity I've got now, I'll grab it with both hands and I won't let it go for nothing."

Shelby said she became homeless as a result of "bad relationships, domestic violence, bad choices, a lot with men where they controlled me" and she used alcohol to cope.

The newly refurbished house in Oxford is a women-only space for up to eight people.

Homeless Oxfordshire A modern kitchen-dining room. There is a large wooden dining table with six black chairs arranged around it. There is a large grey, free-standing double fridge-freezer against the wall to the right. A large ortagonal mirror hangs on the opposite wall. Beyond is a new kitchen with cream cupboards and a black cooker. — The newly refurbished house in Oxford is a women-only space for up to eight people.

The eight bedroom house was bought by Homeless Oxfordshire in October and doubles the charity's women-only capacity.

Their women's services team leader Carli Flory said: "Many of the women we work with have lived through significant trauma, instability, and loss of trust in others.

"For them, safety is not just about physical protection – it's about emotional security, belonging, and dignity."

The property forms part of the charity's Women's Project, where women can access tailored trauma support and begin to rebuild their lives.

The Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM) charity identified 51 women sleeping rough in the county as part of a survey the it carried out in 2025.

Yvonne Pinner from OHM said the research "showed very clearly the complexity of the situation".

"There is a lot to unpick when a woman is homeless and lots of aspects that she might need help with and there are a collection of partners able to help women," she said.

Shelby said the Homeless Oxfordshire team were "like my family now".

"It's not like you've got mum or anything like that, but it's like you actually have support. You're not on your own," she added.

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