The role of housing in escaping exploitation

Commonweal's recent Call for New Ideas programme saw us partner with expert organisations to investigate housing models to address injustices faced by those in the migration, asylum and trafficking systems.

In our latest blog, we hear from Darek Karwacki, Chief Executive of Woolwich Service Users Project (WSUP), a grassroots charity based in Southeast London. Darek shares insights from WSUP's Commonweal-funded feasibility study, outlining their supported housing model designed for survivors of modern slavery, and newly granted refugees at risk of exploitation.

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Every day WSUP work with people affected by hardship, mental ill health, housing insecurity and the immigration system. It is not only trauma and exploitation that shape lives, but rather how people are supported - or in many cases not supported - between transitions within systems. The moments when someone leaves an unsafe situation, secures refugee status, or is identified as a potential survivor of modern slavery should be moments of protection. Too often, they are moments of risk.

That is why we set out to explore what safe, trauma-informed housing and support should look like for survivors of modern slavery (before identification in the UK’s modern slavery framework, the National Referral Mechanism, or NRM) and newly granted refugees at risk of exploitation. This couldn’t have happened without the support of Commonweal Housing through its Call for New Ideas programme, which provided us with grant funding to conduct feasibility research.

What we did?

WSUP partnered with Homeless Link to undertake an in-depth feasibility study to inform the development of our housing support model, Pivot House, which aims to bridge the gap in services for those at risk of exploitation. Our intention was not simply to design a service and make a business case, but to listen carefully to people with lived experience and frontline professionals to understand what truly helps individuals recover.

The study combined desk-based research, interviews with stakeholders across housing, health, local authorities and the anti-slavery sector, and focus groups with people who have experienced modern slavery, trafficking and insecure immigration status. 

This was not an abstract exercise. It was grounded in real lives, real stories and real system failures. Homeless Link brought national expertise and consultant insight to the work, and their partnership was invaluable.

Patrick Fowler, Associate acting on behalf of Homeless Link, said: “The study showed, through lived experience and stakeholder evidence, that trauma-informed models of supported housing are a key missing link in survivors’ recovery after exploitation. I am particularly grateful to people with lived experience who were so open in sharing their views, which helped confirm that without appropriate housing with person-led and flexible support, the risk of homelessness and re-exploitation remains high.”

Key themes

Two themes emerged powerfully and consistently throughout the research: the need for recovery space and the critical role of Independent Modern Slavery Advocates.

1)      Recovery space as protection

People with lived experience described the challenges they face when expected to make complex legal, housing and immigration decisions on their own, while still traumatised and without safe accommodation.

One participant told us: “I don’t feel safe when men come into the house without notice. I need to know when someone is coming — I’ve been through too much already.”

Participants described “safe and supportive housing” as private, stable and culturally and emotionally sensitive. It must be a space of recovery, dignity and personal control - conditions that go beyond providing comfort and represent basic safeguarding rights.

Without breathing space to recover, people disengage, mental health deteriorates, and the risk of homelessness or re-exploitation rises sharply. As told by a interviewee with lived experience: "We need a house that helps us recover - not one that reminds us of the past. Somewhere with rules, support, and respect."

2)     Independent Modern Slavery Advisor role

The study also reinforced how complex and fragmented the systems that survivors must navigate are. To address these barriers, Independent Modern Slavery Advocates (IMSAs, a framework pioneered by Hope for Justice) play a vital role by providing trauma-informed, person-led socio-legal advocacy that is independent of service delivery or decision-making.

One stakeholder said: “We need a joined-up referral process - something that stops people falling through the gaps and avoids the trauma of repeating their story over and over."

What became clear is that independent advocacy and housing must work together. IMSAs are most effective when people are safely housed and able to engage, reflect and make informed choices. Housing provides stability and advocacy provides agency. By embedding IMSA roles into WSUP’s day-to-day operations, it will lay the groundwork for the Pivot House model to grow.

Case Study

Charlie* was referred to WSUP by a local charity. He is a survivor of modern slavery - he had experienced cuckooing in his home for over a year. After the police raided the property, he was moved into temporary accommodation by the local council. Charlie had not entered the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and was trying to manage everything on his own.

When Charlie came to WSUP, he was close to becoming homeless. He had built up more than £1,000 in rent arrears across both his old home and his temporary accommodation. This was not his fault - the arrears were caused by mistakes and delays from the council and Universal Credit. With eviction only weeks away, Charlie was anxious and struggling to cope.

We supported Charlie by going through his paperwork with him, speaking directly with the housing worker at the local authority and with DWP/Universal Credit, and attending a housing appointment with him. We made sure the correct housing benefit payments were put in place and backdated, which cleared the rent arrears. This stopped Charlie from becoming homeless and gave him the breathing space he needed to feel safe.

 *name  changed 

Next steps

The message from this study is clear. If we are serious about preventing homelessness and exploitation, we must invest in models that give people time, safety and independent support at the moments they need it most.

When asked what would make the service viable in the long term, stakeholders shared a range of financial, operational and strategic insights, such as: "Don’t build something that only lasts 12 months — we need a model that local authorities and funders can invest in long-term because it saves money elsewhere.”

At WSUP, we will take a phased approach to implementing Pivot House to support those across South East London. We will begin by gaining community-based support and advocacy, embedding IMSA-aligned practice, and building capacity for trauma-informed accommodation that offers genuine breathing space during transition points. Currently, we are working to secure funding partners who share our ambition to develop this project in phases and build it sustainably over time.

Sophie Price, Head of National Consultancy Development at Homeless Link, and co-author of the report, reflected: “Homeless Link were delighted to offer support by drawing on our internal expertise and the knowledge of our consultants. We hope that the feasibility study will open up opportunities for Woolwich Services Users Project to deliver this vital work in the future.”

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Homeless Link and Commonweal to produce this important study, laying the foundations for how this model will operate and improve outcomes for those at risk of exploitation.

This work is about lived leadership, partnership and courage: choosing to slow the system down where necessary to reduce harm and create lasting change. When people have stability, dignity and independent advocacy, long-term recovery becomes possible - and prevention becomes real.