Sheffield develops plans for domestic abuse safe accommodation

People who have experienced domestic abuse in Sheffield have helped shape the city’s latest long-term plan for providing safe accommodation.

The Domestic Abuse and Safe Accommodation Strategy 2021-24 is required by law under the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Sheffield currently has 37 units of women’s refuge accommodation and 17 units specifically for young women and their children, provided by Sheffield Women’s Aid and the Young Women’s Housing Project.

New funding under the Domestic Abuse Act has allowed the Council to begin to work with the voluntary sector and other providers to improve support for victims and their children and help with recovery.

Cllr George Lindars-Hammond, executive member for health and social care, said: ‘It’s really important that we provide these city-wide, high quality support services. It’s what victims and survivors of domestic abuse and their children deserve and need.

‘Thousands of people, including children, are affected by domestic abuse every year in Sheffield and this extra funding means that we can increase the excellent provision that we already have here to make sure they are supported in the right way.

‘Domestic abuse over the past year was highest in the younger age group, 14% of females aged 16-19. There are also barriers for those aged over 60 for reporting domestic abuse and accessing safe accommodation so we must be careful not overlook the older adult age group in the work that do relating to domestic abuse.’

In related news, a plan to support survivors of domestic abuse created by Nottingham City Council will now be used as a template for other areas across the UK.

Photo by Ben White