17.02.20
Councils to receive share of over £16m for domestic abuse services
The government has announced today (Feb 17) a £16.6m funding package to support 75 domestic abuse support projects across England.
Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick has confirmed that councils across the country will be given a helping hand in providing essential support, this includes safe housing for survivors of domestic abuse and their children.
The 75 projects will be entitled to their share of over £16m, enabling up to 43,000 survivors to access the life-saving help towards a safe future after domestic abuse.
Under these new measures, victims and their children will be supported into safe, permanent rehousing where they can recover from the trauma and more forward.
Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick MP, said:
“Domestic abuse destroys lives and leaves victims living in fear in their own homes – the place where they should feel most safe and secure.
“No victim of domestic abuse should have to struggle to get the right support, or wait months for help that they need. This new funding of £16.6 million will help local areas better protect victims and their children and provide essential life-saving services, delivering the urgent support that they need to rebuild their lives.”
It comes after the confirmation of a new legal duty to create a consistent approach to accommodation-based support for domestic abuse victims.
New plans to ensure every council in the country is included means all families will be able to access the tailored support, bringing an end to postcode lottery currently experienced by many.
Changes to the Domestic Abuse Bill, being reintroduced to the House soon, will mean that the government definition of domestic abuse will specifically include economic abuse and controlling, manipulative non-physical abuse for the first time.
It will also establish a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner and prohibit the cross-examination of victims by their abusers in the family courts, providing an extra layer of support and safety.