Domestic abuse and homelessness, House of Commons, 12 June 2019

A multi-agency approach is needed to tackle this crime, with flexibility in the new package of support to ensure services can be tailored to the needs of different areas.


Key messages

  • Tackling domestic abuse is an issue which councils take very seriously. They already offer a range of support to protect victims and their families from this horrendous crime.
  • The Government recently announced that local authorities will be required to publish strategies which set out in detail the range of support services available for domestic abuse survivors and their children. Councils will be supported with this vital work through funding, which will be provided to ensure these services are put on a long-term, sustainable footing.
  • The Government’s new package of support for domestic abuse survivors also places a legal duty on councils to deliver accommodation-based support. It is important that the final package ensures local authorities are supported in their work going forward. It must provide flexibility to ensure services can be tailored to the needs of different areas.
  • A multi-agency approach is needed to tackle this crime, with flexibility in the new package of support to ensure services can be tailored to the needs of different areas.
  • Our ambition must be to reduce the number of victims of domestic abuse. We need greater investment in early intervention and prevention schemes that helps stop domestic abuse occurring in the first place.
  • Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home, and housing is especially critical for the safety of domestic abuse victims. Councils are already housing 200,000 people in temporary accommodation, and homelessness services are facing a funding gap of more than £100 million in 2019/20 and £421 million by 2024/25.
  • The Government needs to use its Spending Review to sustainably fund homelessness prevention, to adapt welfare reforms, and to enable councils to address the growing housing shortage.

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LGA briefing - Domestic abuse and homelessness, House of Commons, 12 June 2019