Addressing the Housing and Support Gap for Homeless Couples Affected by Domestic Abuse
For domestic abuse victim/survivors experiencing entrenched homelessness and multiple disadvantage, there are significant barriers to seeking help to escape the cycle of abuse, especially for those who are still in relationships with abusive partners and are homeless/rough sleeping with them. Rough sleeping pathways and provision are largely focused on services for ‘single homeless’ people, and there are few options for rough sleeping couples who want to be housed together. Where there is known domestic abuse in a relationship, there are even fewer options for couples.
Recognising and leaving an abusive relationship is a difficult and often dangerous process, and the challenges and risks are even more acute for victim/survivors who do not have housing, are isolated from support, and who may have other compounding health and social care needs. Likewise, additional complications and fears around future housing, homelessness, health, finances and more that come with the prospect of leaving an abusive relationship can hinder a survivor’s ability and decision to leave.
This study considers the feasibility of developing a new Housing First service in London to address the currently unmet housing and support needs for couples experiencing rough sleeping and/or long-term homelessness, where domestic abuse is known or suspected to be present within the relationship.
The study was funded by Commonweal Housing and was undertaken by a partnership led by Single Homeless Project (SHP) and Solace, who commissioned independent researchers with expertise in housing and violence against women and girls.
See the full report here, as well as the recording of a webinar discussing the findings below.
Webinar recording