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'It's dire - some people have homes without beds'

Anna Jameson,North Westand
Lauren Hirst,North West
BBC Rose, who is wearing a black top with a colourful print and a pink scarf, is standing in front of rows of furniture including cupboards and sideboards in the furniture hub. BBC
Rose Ssali from Support and Action for Women's Network described the situation as "unbelievable"

When single mum Norah Kiyika moved from London to Oldham with her newborn baby in 2019, she remembers being so short of money that she faced the prospect of having to sleep on the floor.

"To me I felt like it was shameful to come [to the charity furniture hub] because I was somebody who used to work," said Norah. "But because I had a child everything came to a stop.

She said it was all about "prioritising the bills, the milk, the pumpers... but I didn't have a bed".

Norah's is not an isolated story, according to Rose Ssali, chief executive of the Support and Action for Women's Network (SAWN) charity.

'Everybody needs a bed'

"People don't even have a bed. It's unbelievable, because many people who come for furniture have other issues," said Ssali.

"So if you don't have a bed... you struggle for other things as well in your life - it is dire."

Ssali said more needed to be done to help the most needy people in society.

"At least everybody needs a bed to dream on and you can only dream when you're lying down comfortably," she said.

"So I just hope everybody can get a bed to be able to dream."

Norah Kiyika, who is wearing a pink dress with colourful flowers, is sitting on a couch and smiling at the camera.
Norah Kiyika said she felt ashamed by not having a bed

Furniture donated by local housing associations has been collected at a mill in Chadderton by SAWN.

People can then either buy the heavily discounted furniture that they need or, if they are really struggling, can receive a free furniture pack for items like tables, chairs, beds and sofas.

Merseyside-based End Furniture Poverty has called on the government to properly furnish social housing properties for tenants.

It said one in 10 homes in the north-west of England were without essential items.

It said only 3% of social homes come furnished - much lower than in the private rental sector, where 30% come with furniture.

Donated cabinets, drawers and wardrobes are being stored in a large warehouse.
The furniture hub has a variety of pre-loved items donated by local housing associations

Director Claire Donovan said: "People can't get a good night's sleep if they haven't got a bed.

"People could be sleeping on the floor, which can impact things like joint issues.

"Obviously, if you've not had a good night's sleep, you'll struggle to function."

A government spokesperson said it was updating the Decent Homes Standard alongside "our £1bn fund that can be used to help households with essential items such as furniture".

"We are also looking at what further action we can take on this issue."

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