Tucked away between Cabot Circus and Easton is a community that sometimes gets overlooked. Poor housing conditions and rising food costs are just a few of the problems that people face living in the ageing council housing estates of St Jude's.
While those living in council flats at St Matthias House have optimal views of Cabot Circus and the increasing number of new housing developments surrounding them, the simple task of washing clothes means taking laundry to a separate block and then lugging the clothes up a flight of stairs because the building doesn’t have a lift. And like many living in tower blocks, they only have one hour a week allocated to them to enjoy the privilege of a washing machine.
Residents say issues of damp and mould and overcrowding are not uncommon and while complaints are not always dealt with, sometimes they don’t get reported. Many of the women on the estates in St Jude's come from refugee backgrounds and are too proud to ask for help or just don’t know how, explained Fadumo Galib, a worker at a local CIC, Bristol Horn Youth Concern (BHYC) who runs the only women’s only welcoming space in Bristol.
