More than half of ladies fleeing home abuse turned away from secure refuge on account of continual shortages | EUROtoday

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More than half of home abuse survivors face homelessness after being turned away from refuges on account of a continual nationwide scarcity of areas.

The newest figures present round six in 10 girls fleeing home violence who sought an area in a refuge in England over a 12 months have been denied a spot.

Data from the Office for National Statistics exhibits 27,754 girls have been referred to a refuge between April 2022 and March 2023 however solely 10,824 have been accepted, with 16,930 girls left with nowhere to go. This is the equal of 1 lady being turned away each two hours.

The stunning statistics come as The Independent launches its Brick by Brick marketing campaign in partnership with charity Refuge to boost £300,000 and construct a home for girls escaping abusive companions.

Be a brick, purchase a brick and donate right here or textual content BRICK to 70560 to donate £15

Exclusive information from Refuge exhibits rising numbers of calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which it runs are searching for referrals to refuges to flee their abusers, rising from 5,450 to six,086 between 2020 and 2024.

Just this 12 months up to now, the helpline has supported 49,787 requires assist, with 75 per cent of these being from survivors of home abuse.

The charity revealed that it’s referring a file variety of victims to native councils throughout England and Wales for homelessness – a tripling from 120 to 407 over the identical 4 years.

Abigail Ampofo, interim chief government of Refuge, mentioned a lot of these being denied a secure place have been determined: “For some, there may be the opportunity of getting emergency temporary accommodation from the local authority.

“Others can stay with friends and family. There will be people who need to sofa surf with them. A lot of female rough sleepers’ homelessness was triggered by domestic abuse.”

The newest recorded variety of refuge mattress areas in England from 2023 was 4,385, which is 22 per cent beneath the minimal whole advisable by the Council of Europe.

Nicole Jacobs, the home abuse commissioner for England and Wales, warned that escaping home abuse may be the “most dangerous time” for victims.

“Many will be at very real risk of serious harm and even homicide,” she advised The Independent. “That victims and survivors are being turned away from safe housing and support at this urgent time should concern us all.”

Jess Asato, MP for Lowestoft, who labored within the home abuse sector for years, mentioned turning victims away from refuges locations them vulnerable to additional abuse or being murdered by their companion.

“Every woman who is turned away and requires a safe, protected place like a refuge will be put at risk of further abuse or even murder,” she mentioned.

“Domestic abuse victims should be able to remain safely in their home, with the perpetrator leaving, but in some cases, the victim has to flee to a safe, secure refuge because the risk to their life is so high.”

The MP mentioned the home abuse sector has been “under huge pressure” for many years, with rising numbers of charities combating funding.

Domestic abuse refuges, which home many ladies vulnerable to homicide if they continue to be at house with their abuser, are situated in secret places and have strict safety measures to make sure their residents stay secure.

The newest information from home abuse charity Women’s Aid reveals a postcode lottery when searching for a mattress in a refuge.

While the variety of areas was 2 per cent above the Council of Europe’s minimal suggestion in London this determine was 39 per cent beneath within the South West.

Across the nation, it’s not a lot better with the determine 36 per cent decrease within the South East, 38 per cent decrease within the East of England, and 35 per cent decrease within the North West.

Charlotte Kneer, who beforehand managed 11 refuges throughout Surrey, mentioned the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act had improved entry however the scenario was nonetheless not adequate as she branded the figures “horrifying”.

Ms Kneer, a home abuse survivor whose violent companion was jailed for seven years in 2011, warned: “Unless you have lived in that situation where you fear every day it could be your last day, you don’t understand the absolute desperation these survivors feel.

“As a society, it feels so callous we are turning our backs on the survivors who desperately need us.”

Ms Ampofo, of Refuge, mentioned it’s irritating and upsetting having to show girls in want of assist away.

She added: “I remember a victim who called the helpline. She had been able to flee and she fled very quickly. When she got somewhere safe, she called the helpline – she was in the park with her kids. It was 11pm. Due to her needs, she required urgent safe accommodation.

“It took a few hours for her to get help. This meant she was in an unsafe and unsuitable situation for far too long. They had literally nowhere else to go. She had nobody.”

She mentioned assist for home abuse victims has lengthy been “chronically underfunded” in England and Wales – including ministers haven’t backed the longer-term funding of companies which has generated “massive gaps” in provision.

“Right now, thousands of women in the UK are scared for their lives in their own homes,” she added. “It takes an enormous amount of courage – and planning – to flee an abuser.”

A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “These figures are appalling and highlight that domestic abuse is a scourge on our society. We thank the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and all refuge services for the vital work they do to keep women safe.

“We have said that the scale of violence against women and girls is a national emergency and our mission is to halve this violence within the next decade by improving policing and the criminal justice system, relentlessly pursuing dangerous offenders and providing sustained support for victims.”

Please donate now to the Brick by Brick marketing campaign, launched by The Independentand charity Refuge, to assist increase £300,000 to construct a secure house for girls the place they will escape home abuse, rebuild their lives and make new futures.

Anyone who requires assist or assist can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is open 24/7 one year per 12 months on 0808 2000 247 or by way of its web site