Rosie backs refuges over funding cuts
WEST Lancashire Women’s Refuge is facing an uncertain future as a result of government spending cuts.
MP Rosie Cooper raised the issue during a Commons debate on the potential reduction in housing benefit payments for those in supported living.
For victims fleeing domestic violence they often rely on the housing benefit payments to cover the cost of renting a room in a women’s refuge giving them safety and sanctuary.
Ms Cooper believes that making cuts to the housing benefits will heap further financial pressure on refuges that are already struggling to cope with cuts in government funding.
Funding from Lancashire County Council, the £10 million Supporting People fund, is used to staff the nine refuges in the county.
In having to make £262 million of budget cuts, Lancashire County Council have proposed ending this funding for refuges.
Alongside the housing benefits cuts this would leave West Lancashire’s Women’s Refuge facing the threat of closure.
Speaking after the debate, West Lancashire MP Cooper said: “The Government talks about its commitment to protecting the victims of domestic violence. Talk is all it does it seems.
“In cutting funding to local authorities and cutting welfare support to victims of domestic violence the Government’s actions on domestic violence tell a different story.
“These refuges, including West Lancashire Women’s Refuge, offer a safe place and an escape to many women and their children in West Lancashire.
“On the housing benefits for supported living the minister offered a review. But by the time this review is complete the refuges will have closed their doors for the final time. The Government needs to commit to protecting this support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities.
“The consequences of losing the refuges and the lack of an alternative really does not bear thinking about. It puts women back in harm’s way, with the threat of abuse and violence. This is a backwards step in tackling domestic violence in Britain in 2016.”
In response to the situation West Lancashire Women’s Refuge has started a petition, to fight for their future. The petition makes an appeal to Lancashire County Council to “review their decision to withdraw funding for all nine refuges in Lancashire”.
It reads: “We want Lancashire County Council to reconsider their position and look again at keeping funding available for these vital services.”
On the petition campaign, Ms Cooper said:“I’ve put my name to the petition. I would strongly urge everyone in West Lancashire who believes in protecting victims of domestic violence from harm, to put their name to this petition too.”
To sign the petition visit: www.change.org/p/ lancashire-county-council-stop-funding-cuts-tolancashire-refuges