The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prevent and tackle women’s homelessness.
Kris Hopkins
This Government has invested £470 million to prevent and tackle all forms of homelessness over the spending review period. The homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.
The Government is committed to tackling and preventing all forms of homelessness and rough sleeping the Government. We have:
• Invested nearly £2 million to stop unlawful practice of councils placing families in B&Bs for more than 6 weeks;
• Supported the roll out of ‘No Second Night Out’ schemes across England, helping 67 per cent of rough sleepers off the streets after a single night;
• Invested £42.5 million to improve rough sleeper hostels;
• Made it easier for councils to help move homeless families out of temporary accommodation more quickly by using good-quality privately rented accommodation – backed up by a £1 billion investment to expand the rented sector; and
• Supported Local authorities to deliver high quality housing solutions for vulnerable people through the Gold Standard scheme. Councils aiming for the Standard are supported by £1.7 million worth of training and other support.
The dynamics of domestic abuse mean that accommodation can play an important role in the resolution of interpersonal abuse and conflict. This is why local authorities provide a range of support for victims of domestic abuse. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.
This Department also funds UKRefugesOnline a UK wide database of domestic violence services which supports the national 24 hour free phone domestic violence helpline. It enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get the help they need as quickly as possible.
