Twelve years ago, my life looked very different. I was homeless in London with two very young children, unsure of what the future would hold for us. When I was offered a home by Leeds Jewish Housing Association, it wasn’t just a set of keys I received. It was safety. It was stability. It was the beginning of a new chapter for my family. LJHA didn’t just offer us home, they welcomed us into a community.

From the moment I arrived, I felt supported. A few years after moving in, I was invited to get involved with the Service Improvement Panel as a volunteer. That opportunity meant so much to me. I received full training, I learned a lot, I met fellow tenants - fantastic people, every one of them - and I felt part of something meaningful. Being included in that way showed me that LJHA truly values the voices of its tenants.

Being a Jewish Hosing provider, they play an important role in bringing the community, families together to celebrate Jewish Holidays. From the annual Succah put up on the Queenshill estate, to delivering Mishloach Manot on Purim, organising a party for the young children for Hanukkah are all help connect and strengthen the tenant community.

And now, a new chapter is about to begin for my family once again. We have been offered one of the new houses currently being built, and we are absolutely thrilled. My two teenage boys cannot wait to finally have their own bedrooms, and the excitement in our home is growing every day. It feels like another step forward, another chance to grow, and another reminder of how much LJHA has helped shape our lives.

I am deeply grateful for everything they have done for me and my family. They are a wonderful, caring organisation, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of the community they have built.

Thank you, LJHA, for giving me not just a home, but a future.