Island MP Bob Seely has welcomed a package of support that will help domestic abuse victims on the Isle of Wight rebuild their lives.
In an announcement today (15 February) the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said £125 million will be handed to councils across England to make sure safe accommodation spaces, such as refuges and shelters, can provide victims with vital support services. Interpreters, immigration advice, drug or alcohol support and other specialist services will also be funded and made available so that anyone who flees their home gets the help they need.
The Department confirmed the Isle of Wight Council will receive nearly £300,000 of the overall funding pot which will arrive as an un-ringfenced grant, meaning the council will be responsible for making decisions on how the funding is spent to benefit those in need.
Welcoming the news, Bob Seely said: “This funding is very welcome and will help to support victims of these crimes here on the Isle of Wight. These are vile crimes that have a long-term impact on victims.”
The government has also announced today it will consult on current housing rules, with the aim of giving victims more choice on where they rebuild their lives.
The consultation will consider removing Local Connection Tests for abuse victims, which can stop victims from applying for social housing if they do not have a connection to a local area. This can often mean victims are forced to live in the same communities as their abuser and are denied a fresh start in a new town.
A second consultation will consider whether and how to change current rules that make it difficult for victims to remove their perpetrators from joint tenancies, which can mean victims either feel forced to stay in their home or are at risk of being made homeless by their abuser.
Rough Sleeping and Housing Minister Eddie Hughes MP said: “This funding will give victims of domestic abuse and their children across the country the practical and emotional support to recover and rebuild their lives from this terrible crime.
“Through the landmark Domestic Abuse Act, the government has transformed the response to domestic abuse, helping to prevent offending and make sure victims are protected and supported.
“The consultations we are launching today build on this work and will help us give victims more options to move forward with their lives in the way that is right for them.”
Safeguarding Minister, Rachel Maclean said: “Home is not the safe place it should be for domestic abuse victims and their families. The extra support provided today will provide a vital lifeline for victims as they try and rebuild their lives positively while feeling supported and protected.
“These are important changes that sit alongside the new measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which will give victims of domestic abuse longer to report offences to the police, so that abusers do not evade justice.”
