Money will fund safe havens and helplines for women fleeing from abusive partners
Prime minister Tony Blair has launched an £8m drive against homelessness resulting from domestic violence, as the government revealed that one in six people on council housing waiting lists have fled abusive partners.

The cash will be split into £7m to provide more beds in safe havens run by various organisations across the country, and £1m for improving telephone helplines run by charities Women's Aid and Refuge. Blair and Barbara Roche, the minister for women and homelessness, announced the funds yesterday at Hackney Women's Aid in east London.

The government's figures show that domestic violence directly accounts for 16% of those on local authority homelessness lists every year. Domestic violence is a contributing factor in seven out of every 10 homelessness cases. And quarterly statistics released as Housing Today went to press were expected to show a rise in the number of households in tempoary accommodation.

A spokeswoman at the Homelessness Directorate said that for thousands of women and children, fleeing their homes to escape a violent partner was "a last resort".

  • A £600,000 centre for the homeless offering job advice, vocational training and social and leisure facilities is to be built in east London.

    The pioneering "inclusion centre" is funded by the London Development Agency and supported by London mayor Ken Livingstone.

    It will be in Hoxton and will cater for up to 500 homeless people and people at risk of homelessness.

    Plans include a 100-seat restaurant, business units to help people set up their own companies, web design training and a community gym. The centre will be Europe's largest new social enterprise project and is expected to open in November 2003.

    If the scheme is a success, similar centres will be rolled out across the capital.

    Housing Today Christmas Appeal

    Family Housing Group is the latest organisation to join Housing Today’s Christmas appeal for domestic violence charity Refuge. Carolyn Siddall, a member of Family’s New Deal team, said her department will donate money to the appeal that they would otherwise have spent on Christmas cards. Refuge helps 80,000 women and children each year.

    • Source

    Housing Today