“Every day here reinforces the profound difference a safe space makes.” – Shaymaa
When Shaymaa touched down in Australia from Egypt, she was filled with a sense of immense opportunity.
“I arrived in Australia as an HR professional, married with three beautiful children,” she says. But when COVID-19 hit, everything changed.
“From the outside, it seemed a picture of success,” Shaymaa continues. “But when my daughter began a severe struggle with mental health during COVID, the true cracks in my marriage appeared.”
Shaymaa says her husband’s abuse quickly escalated.
“His beliefs were rooted in a deeply male-dominated culture. When I tired to protect my daughter, he turned on both of us.”
A system against her
As Shaymaa continued to do her best to keep her daughter safe, her husband weaponised every system he could to maintain his control.
“Financial abuse, legal battles – it depleted me,” she remembers. “It was a suffocating struggle to maintain a façade of normalcy while everything crumbled.”
Then, without warning, Shaymaa’s husband left. And almost simultaneously, she was made redundant.
“He took every penny we had. Suddenly, with an ill daughter, I had absolutely no financial or housing support.
“It was in that moment of utter desperation, facing homelessness, that Women’s Housing Company became my lifeline.”
A beacon of hope
Before connecting with Women’s Housing Company, Shaymaa thought finding a home would be impossible.
“The challenges were overwhelming,” she says. “Navigating serious family illness, dealing with intense trauma and PTSD, all while being a single parent with no income.”
But since securing stable accommodation through Women’s Housing Company’s Transitional Housing Plus program, Shaymaa has found the foundation she needed to rebuild her life.
The five-year program provides safe, stable housing for women and children while supporting women to recover, return to work or study, and prepare for independent living in the private rental market.
“My home isn’t just a place to live; it’s a sanctuary,” says Shaymaa. “As soon as my daughter and I found this safe haven, away from her father, her mental health improved dramatically. I’ve been able to focus solely on caring for my daughter and dedicate time to my own healing.
“For the first time in years, I can use my phone without the fear of being monitored. Before, I was constantly busy, cleaning, creating errands, always on edge and always pretending. Now ‘home’ means I can simply be. I can sit and embrace the quiet, without the need to perform or be afraid.”
Foundations for growth
Now back in the workforce, Shaymaa is thriving.
“The Transitional Housing Plus program gave me the stability to return to work when I was genuinely ready, not out of desperation,” she says.
“I’m immensely proud of my personal development. My confidence has transformed and I’ve gained an incredible sense of self-worth.”
Shaymaa also participated in Her Voice, a Women’s Housing Company initiative focused on empowering women to reclaim and share their stories.
“Being selected for Her Voice was a huge honour,” she says. “It’s allowed me to share my story and show other women that hope is real.
“I now know my capabilities and my path. And, most importantly, I’ve learned the unwavering strength of saying ‘No’ when needed.”
Shaping the future
Shaymaa says she’s proud to be a voice for other women who’ve experienced domestic violence.
Through Women’s Housing Company’s Tenant Advisory Group and initiatives like Her Voice, Shaymaa is now speaking directly with those shaping housing policy, including the Australasian Housing Institute and NSW Housing Minister, the Hon. Rose Jackson.
“I want everyone to understand that we are incredibly strong,” she says. “We are not victims; we are survivors. We have endured immense hardships, often in silence.
“What we truly need is time to heal and the space to find our feet again. With support and a safe place, we can, and we will, rebuild our lives and emerge even stronger.”
