Most people think of exploitation as something that happens on the streets. But sometimes it happens behind a front door. A place that should feel safe. A place that should be called home. Cuckooing is when vulnerable people have their homes taken over by others for criminal activity. It can happen to people struggling with addiction. People with mental health difficulties. People living alone. People with learning disabilities. People who are isolated and have nobody looking out for them. It rarely starts with threats. Often it begins with friendship. Someone offers company. A bit of help. A place in a social circle. Someone to talk to. Then slowly the boundaries begin to disappear. More people start turning up. The property becomes a place where drugs are used or supplied. The tenant loses control of their own home. And before long, the place that once offered safety becomes a source of fear. Many people stop sleeping properly. They stay in one room. They avoid inviting family around. They become frightened to say no. Some leave their own homes and sleep elsewhere. Others remain trapped inside, feeling like visitors in the very place they pay for. Many victims don't report it. Not because they don't want help. But because they're frightened. Frightened of violence. Frightened of repercussions. Frightened of losing their tenancy. Or simply frightened that nobody will believe them. For people trying to recover from addiction, having a safe home can be the foundation for change. But when your home is taken over, recovery becomes much harder. How can someone rebuild their life when they no longer feel safe where they live? The reality is that cuckooing is not a lifestyle choice. It is exploitation. And some of the most vulnerable people in our communities are being targeted every day. As recovery workers, housing providers, health professionals, neighbours, friends, and family members, we all have a role to play. Sometimes the most important question we can ask is: "Are you safe in your own home?"