Launching the largest crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history

No one should ever have to decide between staying in an unsafe home or facing homelessness but these are the impossible choices far too many women are forced to make when living with domestic abuse.

I welcome the government’s announcement of additional funding to protect victims of and help them rebuild their lives – £19 million for support in safe accommodation is a significant expansion to the help available to survivors.

This funding is in addition to the nearly £500 million already committed to local authorities and over £550 million to the justice system over the next three years to pay for counselling, court guidance, children’s services and specialist support for those fleeing abuse.

The additional £19 million is expected to support 4,900 households in need of safety bringing the total number of people helped to almost 140,000 over the next three years. The numbers are shockingly high and behind them are families seeking security and a chance to start again.

Evidence tells us the approach works. In 2024 to 25 funding for safe accommodation helped almost 77,000 survivors and children access refuge and support. This announcement builds on that success and forms a core part of the government’s new Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, launched this week.

As part of that strategy the government will deploy the full power of the state in the largest crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history. This is about prevention, protection, justice and finally treating this crisis with the urgency it demands.

“By committing to this mission, we can bear down on abusers, stop them in their tracks and ensure survivors get the safety, stability and justice they deserve.”

At the heart of this funding is a commitment to safety and stability for survivors and their children who will be able to access confidential refuge accommodation, far from the reach of perpetrators, alongside tailored move-on support to help them secure long-term housing and rebuild their lives. For those who choose to remain in their homes councils will be able to expand Sanctuary Schemes, combining security upgrades such as lock changes, window locks and alarms with expert domestic abuse support.

That’s important because domestic abuse and homelessness are so closely linked. Figures show that more than one in ten people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are also fleeing domestic abuse and that nearly 70 per cent of women who slept rough last year had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said: “No one should have to choose between staying in an unsafe home or facing homelessness. We’re treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency.” This funding will help local authorities provide the safe accommodation and tailored support survivors need for a fresh start.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips echoed the commitment. She said: “With government and society united, we can achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls within a decade.” This funding will help keep victims safe while stopping abusers from inflicting further harm.

Earlier this year we also made it law that councils couldn’t apply local connection tests to domestic abuse survivors seeking social housing removing yet another barrier to safety. Combined with a streamlined, ring-fenced homelessness grant and £55.8 million for intensive support for those with complex needs, this represents a joined-up, trauma-informed approach.

By committing to this mission, we can bear down on abusers, stop them in their tracks and ensure survivors get the safety, stability and justice they deserve.