Women fleeing domestic violence often get trapped in a cycle of repeat homelessness. Rehousing them is a start, but how do you then make sure they stay out of harm's way?
Of the 20,000 women who fled violent relationships in England last year, an estimated one in three were rehoused in their local community. While these figures from charity Women's Aid illustrate how violent relationships can lead to homelessness, they mask another problem – the fact that many victims of domestic violence are unable to sustain their tenancies in council and housing association properties.

There is much anecdotal evidence, but little hard research into how long these sorts of tenants stay in their new homes after leaving refuges. However, a report published by the Scottish Executive's homelessness taskforce last year revealed that just over a third of the nearly 10,000 homeless households rehoused by councils do not sustain their new tenancies. The report added that the most common reason for this was a "relationship breakdown with a partner".

The issue of how to help vulnerable tenants remain in permanent accommodation is becoming more prevalent with Supporting People due to start in April next year.

In Leeds, an innovative scheme run by Carr-Gomm Housing Association, a charity and registered social landlord set up in 1965, offers floating support to women – and their children – who have just secured new tenancies. The aim is to arm them with the skills they need to add stability to their lives so they can sustain a tenancy.

The scheme began when the city council became concerned that women who had fled violent partners formed a large number of those suffering repeat homelessness. So the council talked to possible partner organisations about providing a specific service to help them maintain tenancies.

The initial rolling programme set up in 1998 was for 12 tenants at a time, but last year a further 24 council tenants and 12 from housing associations joined up. Almost all have stayed in their new homes.

The next step is to provide support for up to 12 single fathers, with costs met through transitional housing benefit. Later this year the service is going into partnership with Women's Aid to support women leaving refuges, and the six-strong team will take on another two workers.

Why is the scheme successful?
The reason, says project manager Juliet Clarkson, is that it tailors services according to an individual's need. Many clients lead chaotic lives – some may have drug or alcohol addiction, be involved in prostitution, or have mental health problems as well as having been victims of violence.

The tailored support might include accompanying tenants to court hearings, writing letters for them or making referrals. Clarkson also sets up deals with other agencies: the police provide personal alarms and safety grids for windows, and their community liaison officer gives advice. And cut-price personal computers are available because staff built up links with local firms.

The service starts by signing clients up for a minimum of four hours' support a week. This time allocation includes behind-the-scenes work, so it may not all be face-to-face.

Clarkson stresses that while emotional support is vital in helping women stay put in their new home, the aim is to help the tenants take responsibility, so staff sign tenants up to contracts of support which are reviewed every three months. If the women feel able to cope alone after that time, the support stops. Staff might put a woman in touch with a local "buddying" service later if they feel she needs extra help.

"Women are rebuilding their lives from scratch," says Leeds council housing policy officer Linda Delahay of the scheme's importance. "They need to build their confidence and their opportunities and that can't be done overnight." Delahay adds that isolation, loneliness and being placed in the wrong area can all contribute to women giving up and losing their tenancies. Women whose lives are already in turmoil may be placed in poor housing conditions, isolated on estates where they know nobody and have no transport. Too many cannot cope and give up their tenancy. "You can set people up to fail," she warns.

There are, of course, practical difficulties with a scheme like this. The most obvious problem is that staff have to be aware that violent ex-partners might still be in contact with their clients. For safety reasons, meetings are often arranged away from the home, in places like family centres.

Recruiting people with varied skills is also essential to a project like Carr-Gomm's succeeding, say staff. The women's needs are very varied – they may need help with anything from writing letters to court on their behalf, to company in court hearings and help with healthcare, childcare or addiction.

The funding comes from transitional housing benefit, plus management grants for the housing association tenants. The charge is simply added to the weekly rent and covered by transitional housing benefit so clients do not have to deal with added bureaucracy. So all clients, regardless of the different landlords, are charged £113.01 a week. That covers all the running costs including face-to-face time, administration, travel, and follow-up work. The group also relies on charitable donations such as the £3500 donated by Children in Need a few weeks ago and a local paint manufacturer who provides materials free of charge.

Kristy is a 31-year-old mother from Leeds who escaped her violent partner and fled to a women's refuge. But her ex-partner kept finding her: each time Kristy and her two-year-old twins moved to another refuge, he tracked her down. In total, she spent three months fleeing from one refuge to another. Now, a few months later, she is able to maintain a household through help from her support worker. Carr-Gomm helped her get a council tenancy, a loan for furniture, free paint for the walls and tips on decorating.

Clarkson says: "Floating support helps women like Kristy to live independently and to make sure there is a positive outcome to the situation."

Edinburgh’s approach

Edinburgh Women’s Aid runs a support service for 10 families at a time leaving refuge and taking up permanent housing. Women can get help with applying for furniture and decorating grants, contacting schools and nurseries, and other practical and emotional support. The help usually lasts for six months but can continue for up to a year. Next month EWA will launch a 10-week confidence-building group course for women. Their children can access a similar course of their own. Family resource and follow-up worker Irene Bruce says women’s needs are usually very practical initially, such as applying for benefit. Later they need help with overcoming isolation, dealing with being on their own with the children full time, and managing finances.
  • Cost of the scheme: £1400 for office equipment, £5300 for a leased car, three-year salary for one person £60,000, travel £2000, consultants £1500, training £350, information provision £150, recruitment £1500, rent for groups £600. More cash will be needed for childcare costs in future. Services are currently funded on a three-year Community Fund grant, but this ends next March. The organisation is looking to continue funding for women through Supporting People and housing benefit, with children’s support from the Community Fund.

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    Housing Today