Safe Accommodation Strategy

3.1 The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-2027 identifies that domestic abuse is a primary cause of homelessness. The strategy emphasises the importance of early intervention in relation to domestic abuse to prevent homelessness, as well as the provision of supported housing for those who become homeless and require housing and support.

3.2 Three supported housing accommodation pathways have been defined for homelessness: domestic abuse, young people and homeless, and multiple and complex needs.

3.3 To fully understand the accommodation needs of victims and survivors of domestic abuse and to build on the evidence of need and demand captured in the Homelessness Review, a 'deeper dive' into the data on domestic abuse was undertaken to ensure a robust evidence base in determining future recommissioning requirements.

3.4 Following this detailed assessment of need and demand, a Domestic Abuse Commissioning and Procurement Plan was developed, confirming the required types and volume of safe accommodation needed to meet this need and demand, together with a cost appraisal.

3.5 The Domestic Abuse Commissioning and Procurement Plan was approved by the council's Cabinet in October 2022. The plan included requirements for the following safe accommodation provision for victims and survivors of domestic abuse:

A costing exercise was undertaken to compare the costs of the safe-accommodation-based provision required (61 units as shown in the table above) against the budget envelope. Following this exercise and after receiving feedback from the Domestic Abuse Working Group, it was decided to prioritise the commissioning of the following schemes to better meet local demand, providing a total of 37 units:

1) Refuge safe accommodation - for single females aged 25+ and females with children aged 18+, 24/7 support on site, 8 units.

2) Complex needs safe accommodation - for single females aged 18+ 24/7 support on site, 12 units.

3) Dispersed safe accommodation - for those aged 18+, singles and or families, floating support within dispersed properties, 17 units.

Following subsequent grant confirmation, it was confirmed that commissioning could also progress with additional young person's safe accommodation provision to meet identified need as follows, taking the total number of commissioned units up to 43:

4) Young persons safe accommodation - for single females aged 18-25yrs, 24/7 support on site, 6 units.

3.6 Successful procurement of the above four schemes will result in a significant increase in the overall commissioned safe accommodation unit numbers. This plan was supported by the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board in January 2023. Commissioning of the above four schemes is due to begin in December 2024 with contracts due to be awarded in 2025.