Victims left homeless

THE All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness is campaigning to ensure people fleeing domestic abuse have a safe home.

Many women and men fleeing domestic abuse face the very serious risk of homelessness. It is currently the case that people fleeing domestic abuse in England, unlike in Wales and Scotland, are not automatically considered in priority need by their local authority for settled housing and must prove that they are significantly more vulnerable than others.

Proving vulnerability can be traumatic and near impossible for some survivors when they are in a very dangerous position. In this situation people often face the unthinkable situation of returning to an abusive partner or facing homelessness.

Despite government plans to place a statutory duty on local authorities to assess local need for and commission accommodation-based domestic abuse services, this falls short of ensuring all survivors have a right to rehousing and access to a safe home where they can rebuild their lives.

I believe that anyone who experiences domestic abuse is, by definition, vulnerable and should be considered for settled housing.

Research by the APPG for Ending Homelessness found about 2,000 survivors a year are being put at risk of homelessness because they are not considered in priority need.

This is despite the obvious likelihood of returning to an abuser when facing homelessness.

Concerned readers can contact the Housing Secretary and ask him to ensure the Domestic Abuse Bill guarantees people fleeing domestic abuse a safe and settled home.

Together, we can end homelessness for good. This can be done at the Crisis online campaign link at: www.crisis.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/a-safe-home/ Andrew Wastling, Rochdale