Joanita Nalubowa, a 34-year-old woman who had been struggling with domestic abuse, tragically ended her life on Christmas Day in 2020.
She died at St Pancras Hospital after being told she would have to move far away from her support network. This devastating case has raised serious questions about how vulnerable people are supported by housing and mental health systems.
Joanita had been living in Stockton, a town in the North of England, but she had very few connections there after her divorce. She told authorities that her ex-partner was abusive and that her family and friends, who could support her, lived in London.
Despite this, the system decided she had to return to Stockton. Joanita told people she would “rather die than return to Middlesbrough,” as it was an area where she had faced trauma and felt unsafe.
A coroner’s investigation revealed that housing close to her support network in London was critical for Joanita’s mental health and safety.
However, her request to stay in London was rejected because the local authorities in London were following strict rules about housing eligibility. Witnesses told the coroner that council workers and clinicians felt powerless to make exceptions for Joanita, even though they knew how much she needed to stay near her family.
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, said that Joanita’s tragic case highlights serious failings in the system.
She stated that the current housing laws were not properly applied in Joanita’s situation and promised to take action to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Ms. Rayner said she would remind local authorities of their duties to support vulnerable people, especially domestic abuse victims, and use their discretion in making housing decisions.
The government also plans to change housing policies to better protect victims of domestic abuse. These changes will include exemptions that make it easier for abuse survivors to access safe and suitable housing. Ms. Rayner added that the government is also reviewing mental health services to ensure that discharge plans take a patient’s safety into account.
In response to the coroner’s concerns, Ms. Rayner explained that laws like the Housing Act of 1996 are supposed to protect domestic abuse victims by preventing them from being moved to unsafe areas. However, in Joanita’s case, the law seems to have been applied incorrectly, which led to her being forced back to a place where she felt unsafe and unsupported.
Ms. Rayner stressed that no one should feel afraid in their own home. She promised that the government is committed to reducing violence against women and girls, and to ensuring that vulnerable people like Joanita get the help they need. She also said that the government is working on removing barriers to social housing so that others don’t face the same tragic outcome.
This heartbreaking story has sparked widespread concern about how the system supports victims of domestic abuse and people with mental health struggles. Joanita’s case shows the urgent need for change to ensure that vulnerable individuals are treated with compassion and their needs are properly addressed.
