Safe Accommodation Strategy

1.1 The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 placed a new statutory duty on local authorities to ensure that victims and survivors of domestic abuse and their children can access the right support, within refuges and other types of domestic abuse safe accommodation, when they need it. In developing our safe accommodation strategy and related provision we will follow the government safe accommodation guidance.

1.2 The duty aimed to address inconsistent approaches to the commissioning and delivery of support within safe accommodation and set out a statutory framework requiring local authorities to:

• assess the need for accommodation-based support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• develop and publish a strategy for the provision of this support to cover their locality, having regard to the needs assessment
• implement the strategy (through commissioning and decommissioning decisions)
• monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy

1.3 A broad definition of safe accommodation has been adopted, which recognises the diverse nature of accommodation where victims and survivors and their children may live. The new duty will cover the provision of support to victims and survivors and their children living in the following accommodation types:

• refuge accommodation
• specialist safe accommodation
• dispersed accommodation
• sanctuary schemes
• move-on or second-stage accommodation

1.4 The types of domestic abuse support required under the new duty include:

• advocacy support - development of personal safety plans, liaison with other services (for example, GPs and social workers, welfare benefit providers)
• domestic-abuse prevention advice - support to assist victims and survivors to recognise the signs of abusive relationships, to help them remain safe (including online) and to prevent re-victimisation
• specialist support for victims and survivors with relevant protected characteristics and or complex needs. For example, interpreters, faith services, mental health advice and support, drug and alcohol advice and support, and immigration advice
• children's support - including play therapy and child advocacy
• housing-related support - providing housing-related advice and support. For example, securing a permanent home and advice on how to live safely and independently
• counselling and therapy for both adults and children

1.5 All councils in England were allocated 'new burdens' funding to support the delivery of this statutory duty to provide support in safe accommodation. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, (now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government MHCLG) confirmed that funding will continue until March 2025.