DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS

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1 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS Hilary Fisher Director of Policy, Voice and Membership

2 WOMEN S AID o The national domestic violence charity help up to 250,000 women & children every year o Network of around 300 local services across England o Keeps voices of survivors at heart of our work through: o Influencing laws, policy & practice Raising public awareness & providing education & training Providing services, including National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Refuge An annual survey of service provision Providing direct support through: National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Refuge Women s National Training Centre UK Refuges Online (UKROL) Gold book Online

3 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE The police are called every 30 seconds (on average) for assistance with domestic violence 7.1% of women reported having experienced domestic violence in 2012/13, 30% of women had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16 Women are much more likely to experience domestic violence than men and when they do it is more severe, repeated, ongoing, and more likely to include sexual violence. Approximately 2 women a week are killed by their partner or ex-partner 3

4 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS 39% of St Mungo s female clients who had slept rough were made homeless due to domestic violence % of homelessness acceptances in England relate to domestic violence. 22% of families owed the main homelessness duty reported they were homeless because of a violent relationship breakdown Twice that number (41%) had experienced domestic violence as an adult. 4

5 WOMEN S JOURNEYS Research by Janet Bowstead (2013) shows domestic violence causes forced migration of tens of thousands of women and their children Women are homeless to stay safe If they can women stay local, if not it is because: Perpetrator remains a threat Local authority and other agencies hinder their safety The local Community is not safe The number of women moving in and out of a Local Authority each year is fairly constant 9,577 women & 10,117 children were given refuge accommodation by 51% Women s Aid members services during 2012/13

6 THREATS TO SPECIALIST SERVICES 31 per cent of funding to domestic violence services cut between 2010/ /12 Commissioning for non-specialist gender neutral services vs women s need for specialist gender specific support services Some local authorities are not commissioning refuges, others are commissioned refuges primarily for local women Women s Aid 2013 research shows that: While the number of bed spaces remains fairly constant the shift in provision may not meet women s needs Services are running without dedicated funding 6

7 THREATS FROM THE LOCALISM AGENDA Local commissioning is resulting in: - Increasingly gender neutral approach - Loss of specialised expertise - Smaller organisations finding it harder to compete, particularly BME specialist support services Cost cutting is a false economy: Denying a woman a safe escape route can cost emergency and social services later on Will render completely ineffective aspects government is investing in which are focused on: - Risk management - Obtaining convictions

8 WOMEN ESCAPING VIOLENCE NEED Housing Legal Safety VICTIM Health Financial Children Homelessness reduces risks women face from perpetrator, but increases her support needs

9 THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM The spare room subsidy ( Bedroom tax ) is affecting survivors in move-on or sanctuary schemes Freedom of Information requests from Labour shows that 21% of victims of domestic violence who have sanctuary scheme measures in their home are affected by the Bedroom tax Local Authorities in three areas are currently giving Discretionary Housing Payments to women living in Sanctuary Scheme properties - Plymouth, Swindon and Cornwall Women s Aid believes all such schemes should be exempt

10 CHANGES TO EXEMPTED ACCOMMODATION Women s Aid welcomes the extension of the definition of exempted accommodation to include a new category of specified accommodation which will give specific protection to refuge services This will extend the same protection from Benefit Cap and Universal Credit that exempt accommodation has Most refuge services should now have the security of knowing that key reforms such as the Benefit Cap should not apply to their residents However the longer term future of supported housing payments is unclear as the DWP has stated it would be via some kind of localised provision

11 WHAT WOMEN S AID IS DOING NATIONALLY Developing accreditation for members based on National Quality Standards Piloting outcomes framework in partnership with Imkaan Working with government, commissioners and representative bodies Capacity-building support for members Raising awareness of domestic violence and the importance of specialist needs-led services

12 Quality & adequate provision local priority Support for services targeting minority women Sustained & secure funding Value of women only services recognised

13 To find out more about: Women s Aid visit: Training opportunities available with Women s Aid visit: or training@womensaid.org.uk The Gold Book visit: