Scheme to help vulnerable women into accommodation in Leeds

A new scheme by Leeds City Council will help homeless and vulnerable women to secure long-term, secure accommodation.

The ‘Somewhere Safe to Live’ Scheme will run in partnership with Together Women, an organisation offering support to Yorkshire women in difficult circumstances.

Women will be given tailored support to find and keep accommodation, while the council, Together Women and Foundation at Inspire North bring 15 one bed properties with two-year leases into the Leeds social housing sector over the next two years.

Cllr Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader with responsibility for resources and Safer Leeds, said: ‘This service will be absolutely lifechanging for women in our city who desperately need support and somewhere safe to call home.

‘I am delighted that we are working in partnership with Together Women who are experts in providing specialist, tailored support for women and I hope that this will provide a lifechanging opportunity for the women who need to use this service to turn their lives around”

‘The Somewhere Safe to Live project will add to the increasing portfolio of accommodation for homeless people in Leeds and contribute to the council’s vision of keeping people safe from harm and protecting the most vulnerable.’

Together Women provides advice and support to women facing domestic abuse, help in finding employment, mentoring and advocacy to female offenders and mental health support. 

Bethan Silley, senior key worker at Together Women, said: ‘Together Women will provide intensive person-centred support to empower women to maintain their tenancies, grow in independence and access opportunities.

‘I am really excited to be part of providing this new service, allowing women to have a home they feel safe in as well as flexible support to address individual needs that are often seen as barriers for accessing and maintaining a tenancy.

‘Somewhere Safe to Live starts with the women’s voice; what does she want and need, giving them choice and control throughout the decision-making process, including where they live.

‘We all need a safe home, the skills to maintain it and the right support for our individual needs. At Somewhere Safe to Live this is what we aim to provide.’

In related news, 60% of all homeless adults living in temporary accommodation in England are women, despite only making up 51% of the general population, analysis by Shelter shows.

Photo by Andreea Popa