Handing over the keys

The Empty Homes Project: Abdulaziz's Story

After being granted refugee status and reunited with his family, Abdulaziz faced a housing crisis. But, due to a partnership between ACH and Bristol City Council, the family were able to be housed in a fantastic four-bedroom recently renovated home.

Read more to find out about their story and how they were able to find a long-term family home with the help of the ACH housing team.

Council Renovated Properties

Around Bristol there are council properties lying unoccupied, waiting to be refurbished and restored. These properties are often vacant due to disrepair issues which require extensive maintenance and repair works. At the same time, there is also a shortfall of affordable housing in the city, and a homelessness problem, which particularly affects refugee and newly arrived communities.

Looking to create a sustainable solution to this problem, ACH and Bristol City Council began a partnership several years ago. Bristol City Council has agreed to lease ACH a number of these vacant properties at peppercorn rents in return for ACH doing the renovation works. Once properties have been transformed and ready for reoccupation, they are then to house refugee families that are facing a housing crisis or are at immanent risk of homelessness.

This is part of the council’s strategy to reduce homelessness in the city by increasing the number of houses available. As part of its One City Plan, Bristol City Council aims to reduce the rates of empty properties in Bristol by 50% by 2050.

ACH and council’s collaboration to work together on such project has many advantages. It brings disused properties back into the market, it helps vulnerable and homeless refugees in the city, and it enables refugees to have a safe base to live, work and integrate into society.

Abdulaziz’s Story

When he gained his refugee status, Abdulaziz moved into ACH accommodation as a single occupant in a male shared house.

ACH supported shared occupancy houses are perfect for individuals who have just received refugee status. Once in ACH accommodation, our support team will then work with residents on integration, education, health and family reunion.

After being joined by his wife and four children through family reunion, Abdulaziz’s shared accommodation was no longer suitable. As a family of six, they needed to find a home they could settle down in and feel secure as a family.

Luckily, just as Abdulaziz was reunited with his family, ACH had recently completed renovations on a four-bedroom terraced house. This house was completed as part of Refurbishment project on Bristol City Council owned properties. 

After moving in, the family can now begin to settle into their new life in Bristol, with the children starting education, and the family continuing to be assisted by the ACH support team. Abdulaziz and his sons Faisal and Omar, were delighted to receive the keys to their new home and begin their new journey.

The Future

After receiving the keys to their new house, Abdulaziz and his family can look forward to a more secure future in Bristol.

ACH is determined to continue working with Bristol City Council to renovate unoccupied houses in order to restore their usability and to be able to help and provide accommodation to desperate homeless families and individuals.

This partnership is a product of ACH and Bristol City Council working together to provide innovative solutions to housing problems within the city. It demonstrates ACH and Bristol City Council’s joint commitment to supply high-standard housing to refugees.

By working together, ACH and Bristol City Council can endeavor to create a more sustainable solution to safe and secure housing for refugees in Bristol. The key to achieving inclusive, safe and sustainable housing is collaboration. If Bristol City Council and ACH can continue to work towards a shared goal, it may become reality.