More than 60% of domestic violence refuge referrals declined last year due to lack of funding
Nearly two thirds of referrals to refuges for victims of domestic abuse had to be declined last year because of a “sustained funding crisis” says a new report.
The number of bed spaces in England is now 30 per cent below the amount recommended by the Council of Europe meaning more people are being turned away.
And only 5 per cent of of refuge vacancies could accommodate women who had no recourse to public funds and less than 50 per cent could accept women with more than two children.
The Women’s Aid 2019 audit concluded that demand for all domestic abuse services “continues to exceed available provision” which is leading to a “high number” of dangerous outcomes, such as survivors being turned away when they ask for accommodation.
Adina Claire, acting co-CEO, said: “All too frequently, when survivors cannot access refuge accommodation, they are left with the impossible choice of either returning to their perpetrator or becoming homeless. It doesn’t have to be this way.”
The annual survey looks at 120 domestic abuse organisations across England, surveying them on their funding and how it impacts the services they provide.
The latest audit found the key problems facing the sector are: uncertainty over future funding, the funding not covering the full costs of delivery and no dedicated funding for their area.
Nearly 50 per cent of those who responded to the survey were running an area without any dedicated funding.
Of this group, 48 per cent ran community-based services (such as outreach or support), 37 per cent ran prevention workshops, 34 per cent ran refuges and 31 per cent ran therapy services without any access to money for these projects.
In these instances 74 per cent had to use reserves to cover the costs, 36 per cent lost staff and 23 per cent were relying on unpaid volunteers.
Claire continued: “While increased public awareness has led to more women seeking support for domestic abuse, for too many women, the specialist support services they need to cope and recover are not available.”
In 2019 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse and every fortnight three women are killed by their partner or ex-partner in England and Wales.
Women’s Aid estimates that providing the necessary funding for domestic abuse services in every community would cost the government £393m per year, a fraction of the £66bn estimated cost to society of domestic abuse.
