Shelter search

Finding a home for women with no shelter is a tough job. Dena Rashed explores the latest efforts to provide single women with a roof over their heads

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One of many homeless women and their families who turn to ADEW for shelter and vital

Although she is in her 40s, one could easily mistake her for a woman in her late 50s. Wearing a simple galabiya, and holding her small purse in her hand, Somaya Mabrouk recounts her story in a weary voice.

"After I had my sixth child, my husband married two other women and brought them to live in the house where we lived and which I owned," Mabrouk told Al-Ahram Weekly. Her husband then kicked her out of the house and deprived her of seeing the children. "I have been in court for the past seven years. I have lost hope of getting my house back since he took all my property contracts. Now I am just fighting to get my children back," she said with tears in her eyes.

Throughout these years, Mabrouk has had no basic source of income and no shelter other than that provided by her relatives. "I stay at my brother's tiny apartment and I try to stay at other relatives' houses too," she added.

Her story is by no means unique. The lack of permanent shelter for middle-aged, uneducated housewives who have little experience in life other than raising children means that many women lead a basically intolerable and hopeless existence.

According to Iman Beibars, head of the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW), many middle-aged women are facing divorce, the loss of custody of their children and hence their place of residence since "the apartment becomes directly linked to the role the woman plays as a mother," Beibars told the Weekly.

She argues that the cause of this problem is mostly linked to the current state of Egyptian law, which only reinforces the idea that the woman, whether she works or not, does not contribute to household expenditures, and that the burden of responsibility is the man's. In fact, women are participating more and more actively in providing for the home, and in many cases are the primary source of income. "In many cases the woman [is with her] husband and children for over 30 years, then suddenly he divorces her, and she finds herself without a shelter. Should that be her reward?" she asked furiously.

Seeking to address this issue, ADEW has initiated the "Women with no shelter" project. According to Beibars, "when we talk about women with no shelter we do not mean women who are homeless and on the streets. Women addressed in this project are those who are living in a house that is not theirs."

So far, the project seems to have had a positive effect, even though it is still in its embryonic stage. "ADEW have got me a lawyer, and I have discussed my case at forums organised by the association. It makes me feel that someone is listening to me and supports my case," said Mabrouk.

The project is one of many supported by ADEW, a private voluntary organisation established in 1987 aimed at empowering marginalised women economically, socially, and politically. The organisation's task is not easy, and obstacles constantly emerge. A basic challenge has been the collection of data concerning the women targeted by the project.

A typical case supported by the project is that of Amal Abdel-Razeq, who was deserted by her husband five years ago. "He simply sold the small apartment we were living in and left me with my three kids with no permanent shelter," she said. Until a home can be found for her she is extended small loans by ADEW. "I know I may not see the aims of the project materialise in the near future but I am so relieved to know someone is thinking about us," she added.

Although the wishes of the women supported by the project are as simple as finding a decent room to live in, for ADEW the goals are much more complex and ambitious. "We want to change the mindset; we want to change the way society views women," said Beibars. She argues that motherhood should not be a punishment; for, by giving birth and nurturing their children women are contributing a service to the community. Therefore, ADEW suggests women should be rewarded if they are deserted in proportion to the period of time they spent as wives.

"We want a pension for the women. Seventy per cent should be paid by the state and the rest should be deducted from the husband's income. Secondly, we want the government to allocate 10 per cent of the state's residential buildings to women with no shelter," she said. In addition to that, Beibars says the legal term "alimony in compensation for pleasure" should be replaced by the term "alimony for the termination of the service". She argues that changing the language used in Egyptian law is as crucial as the provision of direct aid, for "it is part of changing the attitudes towards women."

With such ambitious goals, Beibars recognises that the project will not be welcomed be many. "Anything new is shocking, but we look at it this way: 10 years ago, when we lobbied for the right of Egyptian women married to a foreigner to pass her nationality to her children, we were fiercely attacked, but today it is a recognised right."

For Fatema Khafagy, member of the National Council for Women and the head of the Ombudsman Office in Egypt, the issue is certainly an important one. "We receive many complaints from women who financially support their families, and who struggle to find shelter," she said. "It is important to find a feasible solution."

Khafagy does not think, however, that it is possible to pass a law ensuring that men will contribute any significant portion of their income to provide their ex-wives with appropriate housing. As it is, "marriage has become very expensive for young people. So if we tell the man that money is going to be deducted from him on a monthly basis in order to provide for the woman's pension, in addition to the increase in life expenses, marriage will be even more complicated than it already is. The answer should lie in restricting the husband's right to divorce."

Beibars disagrees, and argues that the problem can easily be solved through greater state participation and acknowledgment of its responsibility towards the welfare of women. She argued that "the state has money. It is just misallocated."