Most Women Who Flee Domestic Violence Have Nowhere To Go

Domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness. Government figures show that in the year to June 2019, almost 24,000 people were made homeless in England directly because of domestic abuse. For those fleeing, it is increasingly difficult to find a space in a refuge, which offers temporary accommodation and intensive support. Councils cut funding for domestic violence refuges by almost a quarter between 2010 and 2017, and last year, Women’s Aid found that 64% of all referrals to refuges were declined. According to latest government figures, just 2% of households made homeless because of domestic abuse between April and December 2018 were offered social housing. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/05/vast-majority-women-domestic-violence-nowhere-to-go

Domestic Abuse Victims To Have Priority For Social Housing

Domestic abuse victims should be made a priority for social housing, amid concerns that women and children fleeing abusers are being forced to live in unsafe temporary accommodation. Under updated statutory guidance the government is calling on councils to ensure that victims in refuges and other temporary housing are prioritised for social housing places. This would help victims feel more settled and also free up refuge spaces for other victims, the guidance states. The move follows a report by Women's Aid in June, which found that women and children fleeing domestic violence are being forced to sleep rough or "sofa surf" due to a lack of support from councils. Read more on the CYPN website.

https://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/2006064/domestic-abuse-victims-to-have-priority-for-social-housing

Shelter Announces New CEO

Polly Neate will join Shelter after four years as CEO of Women’s Aid, the grassroots federation of domestic violence charities that provides life-saving services and campaigns against domestic violence. During this time, Polly dramatically raised the profile of domestic violence against women in the British conscience through prominent commentary and tireless campaigning. Much of this has resulted in legislation to create a new criminal offence of coercive and controlling behaviour, more than £30m new funding for domestic abuse refuges, and a review of the way the family courts treat survivors of domestic abuse and their children. Read more on 24housing.

Welfare Cap Would Decimate Women’s Refuges

More than two-thirds of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales will close unless these lifeline services are made exempt from a new government welfare spending cap. Actress and Women’s Aid patron Julie Walters made the claim and highlighted how refuges save lives as the charity’s chief executive pleaded with ministers to reconsider the proposal. Women’s Aid said a planned blanket cap on housing benefit will “decimate” refuges for women fleeing domestic abuse. Mrs Walters, said the Government must exempt refuges from the cuts “or live with the consequences of more women being killed”.  Read more on the Yorkshire Post website.

Bedroom Tax: Rehoused Victims of Domestic Violence Face Eviction

The introduction of the bedroom tax is having an unacceptable and dangerous impact on women who have experienced domestic violence, and councils must take action. The tax reduces the amount that individuals can receive in housing benefit if they are in accommodation regarded as too large for their family size. But women living in properties with sanctuary scheme measures, where support is provided for victims of domestic violence, are not exempt. Women's Aid is aware of cases where women's housing benefit has been reduced or they have to leave the only place where they can be safe, because a safe room is regarded as spare. Read more on the Guardian website.

Threat to Refuges

In a letter to The Times, the charity Women’s Aid states its belief that draft universal credit regulations will make the provision of refuges for domestic violence victims more difficult and lead to them being closed.  The regulations only list three types of charge eligible to be covered by housing benefit. Housing sector figures have warned this could lead to around 13 different types of charges no longer being eligible for benefit. These include the maintenance of communal gardens, fire safety equipment, communal heating, lighting, lifts, door entry systems, children’s play areas, white goods, furniture and rubbish collection. Women’s Aid said: ‘These charges are necessary for the provision of refuge accommodation.’ The charity added that the measures are ‘likely to result in the closure of refuges that are financially unsustainable due to barriers to the receipt of rent.’  Women’s Aid called for women in refuges to be exempt from the £26,000 a year benefit cap, for payments of housing benefit to be made direct to the refuge and for housing benefit to pay the whole running costs of refuges. Read the full letter on the Women’s Aid website.

Domestic Abuse Services 'Face Closure' Due To Government Cuts

More than half of the services that help victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence could face closure as a result of "devastating" Government cuts, a charity has warned. A survey for Women's Aid, the national domestic violence charity, found 60% of refuge services and 72% of outreach services had no funding agreed from April 1. It compared its findings with annual figures for refuge and outreach use for 2009 and 2010 and concluded that more than 70,000 women and their children across the country might not be able to access a service after April, which will put more lives at risk. Read more on 24dash.