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Housing & homelessness support

Housing & homelessness support

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, your home may feel uncertain or unsafe. You may be worried about where to stay, if you can remain in your home, or how to find somewhere else to stay.

You are not alone. There are organisations that can help you understand your housing options, how to approach your local council and find alternative accommodation.


This page can help with:

 

  • Finding a safe place to stay
  • Understanding your housing rights and options
  • Getting help from your local council
  • Accessing emergency accommodation or refuge/safe houses
  • Support if you are at risk of homelessness

With thanks to Shelter for allowing us to use their housing advice content from their website. 

 

Shelter

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support and legal services available through their helplines, online factsheets and webchat service.

England & Scotland: 0808 800 4444

Website: https://england.shelter.org.uk/

Website: https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/         


Wales: 08000 495 495

Website: https://sheltercymru.org.uk/get-advice/         


Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 0344 8920 900 or 0344 8920 908 (out of hours service).

Website: https://www.nihe.gov.uk/housing-help/homelessness         


London: 0344 515 1540 (Mon-Fri 10.00-4.30pm)        Website:  https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/local_services/london       

Helpful Resources

If you’re uncomfortable reporting to the police or if they’re  limited in the actions they can take, civil law options offer an alternative path to safety. Under the Family Law Act, family courts can issue protective orders, such as Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders, to help shield you from further abuse.

View support resources

Insecure immigration and no recourse to public funds can make leaving abuse feel overwhelming and risky. This resource explains the housing options available including emergency housing, asylum support, and domestic abuse settlement routes to feel safe.

View support resources

Escaping domestic abuse means considering many factors such as where to go next, safety, children and your commitments. This guide explores practical options such as staying with family or friends, staying in a men’s refuge/safe house, making a homeless application, or finding private rented accommodation. 

View support resources

If you prefer to stay in your home with safety support, legal measures can help protect you and your home. Civil court orders can remove the abuser, restrict their access to the home and schemes like Sanctuary or Target Hardening can upgrade your physical home security, helping you to feel safer. 

View support resources

Leaving an abusive situation while managing a disability or health condition may need specific support that accounts for your accessibility needs. This guide explains your legal right to priority housing, accessible housing options and details of specialist support networks.

View support resources

Understanding your legal rights to your home during a relationship breaking down can feel confusing, especially when housing contracts are tied to an abusive partner. This guide explains the law on tenure rights, whether you rent or own your home, share the property, or live in a home owned by a partner/ex-partner, family member or others.

View support resources

Domestic abuse is often a pattern of behaviours that include coercive control, emotional and mental manipulation, financial and economic restrictions and more, that often cause confusion. This overview helps you to understand the types of abuse in domestic abuse relationships, and that  abusive behaviours are never your fault.

View support resources

Other Housing Support Services


Crisis

Crisis help people find and keep a rented home by working with landlords to ensure a supply of places to live, and giving homeless people the tools and knowledge to rent successfully.  Support is offered one-to-one with advice and courses for homeless people in 12 areas across England, Scotland and Wales.

England: Skylight Centres: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/   

Help to Rent Database: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/resources-for-practitioners/prs-database/

Edinburgh: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/edinburgh/

South Wales: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/south-wales/

Website: https://www.crisis.org.uk/


CentrePoint

Advice and support to anyone in England aged 16-25 who is homeless or facing homelessness.

Website: https://centrepoint.org.uk/


Homeless Link

Homeless England is the most comprehensive and updated database of homelessness services with 1500 projects in the country including contact details and service descriptions.

Website: https://homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/


Streetlink

StreetLink is a platform that connects people rough sleeping in England and Wales, to support provided by local authorities and charities. This includes anyone who is sleeping outside, preparing to bed down, or sleeping somewhere not designed for habitation, such as a car. To make these connections, the platform relies on alerts submitted by members of the public and people sleeping rough.

Website: https://www.streetlink.org.uk/


Domestic Abuse Relocation Service – Revive

Revive project is an enhanced add-on option to Homefinder UK case management service, focused on relocating domestic abuse survivors. It was specifically designed to provide move-on housing options for those fleeing domestic abuse with no outlet to escape.

Website: https://homefinderuk.org/domestic-abuse-relocation-service-revive

Need help right now?

If you’re in immediate danger, call emergency services on 999.

You can also contact the Men’s Advice Line for confidential support:

Get more help and advice

Find information and support on housing, legal options, immigration and mental health.

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What happens when you call our helpline?

Watch our short video explaining the process of a typical call

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