Charities can bid for a share of £10 million funding to support victims of domestic abuse.
- Charities can bid for a share of £10 million funding to support victims of domestic abuse
- The money will be used to support additional refuge bed spaces and specialist support
- A further £6 million will also be given to homelessness charities to support their work during this time
Details on how domestic abuse charities can access the vital funds they need to support vulnerable groups over the coming months have today (7 May 2020) been set out by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.
Last week, it was confirmed that there would be an additional £10 million for domestic abuse accommodation services over the coming months.
This is part of a £76 million package of government support for the most vulnerable in society, including those affected by domestic abuse.
This funding will support domestic abuse safe accommodation services who not only provide beds, but also offer the critical help victims and their children need.
The support can be used to ensure existing services remain open as well as to create additional capacity and support during these unprecedented times.
The fund will be open for domestic abuse charities in England, including refuges, to bid for a share. Charities providing Domestic Abuse Safe accommodation (including refuges) in England can apply for this funding.
In order to ensure the funding can be shared as quickly as possible, the bidding process has been streamlined meaning people can access the help they need as soon as possible.
Further information on funding streams for charities providing other domestic abuse services will be made available in due course.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said:
Domestic abuse leaves vulnerable people, including children, living in fear in the very place where they should feel most safe and secure – inside their own home.
Protecting victims is an absolute priority and the funding charities can now apply for from today will help them meeting the challenges and support those that need it the most.
As well as this emergency funding, the government has also set out plans to support survivors of domestic abuse in the long-term by giving them better access to local housing services.
Government will bring forward legislation to give domestic abuse victims ‘priority need’ access to settled housing, ensuring they can find a home which is safe, secure and away from the threat of abuse.
Sandra Horley, CBE, chief executive of Refuge says:
Refuge welcomes the government’s promise of extra funding for domestic abuse services. Over the last few weeks, calls to Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline have risen by around 50%, showing the sheer numbers of women needing support.
This extra funding will help ensure those providing specialist domestic abuse services can give abused women and children life-saving refuge accommodation. No woman or child seeking sanctuary and support should ever be turned away.
Linked to this, an additional £6 million will be made available for frontline homeless charities. This funding will be shared amongst organisations who are on frontline, keeping vulnerable people without a home safe and giving them the help they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This follows the appointment of Dame Louise Casey to spearhead a new government taskforce on the response to rough sleeping during the coronavirus pandemic.
The taskforce will work hand-in-hand with councils and agencies across the country on plans to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the immediate crisis is over – ensuring as few people as possible return to life on the streets.
