STADA Statement Response: A National Plan to End Homelessness
Today, the Government published it’s ‘National Plan to End Homelessness’.
Domestic abuse is one of the leading causes of homelessness and we are pleased to see the Plan make specific recognition of this, as well as acknowledging the specific and compounding barriers experiencing by women and victim-survivors experiencing homelessness.
To effectively address and respond to homelessness, it is vital that a gendered and intersectional approach is taken. Not only is domestic abuse a leading cause of homelessness, homeless women experience high levels of violence and abuse, are frequently ‘hidden’ from traditional data on homelessness, and experience specific gendered barriers to accessing support; barriers which are frequently compounded by additional factors including disability, race, substance use, LGBTQ+ identity, age. Additionally, the recognition of and specific funding announced to address the barriers faced by people experiencing multiple disadvantage is welcome.
The recognition of these barriers and the high overlap between VAWG and homelessness is welcome, however victim-survivors will need great ambition in The Plan’s delivery. The Government must bring together its theory with strategy, delivery and accountability.
As part of the Plan, the Government also announced it will develop a toolkit to address homelessness and ensure support for survivors of domestic abuse, drawing on the Whole Housing Approach and the Sanctuary Scheme evaluation.
The Whole Housing Approach is a framework developed by Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance. It is designed to address the housing and safety needs of victim-survivors of domestic abuse in a local authority area. The goal is to improve housing options and outcomes for people experiencing domestic abuse so that they can achieve stable housing, live safely, and overcome their experiences of abuse and for every £1 invested in the Whole Housing Approach, the public sector saves £10.20.
We welcome the Government’s announcement today and commit to supporting the Government and MCHLG in their development of the toolkit.
For victim-survivors, the Plan’s strength lies in its commitment to multi-agency approach and includes a number of measures that reflect the importance of a coordinated, cross-agency approach to people experiencing domestic abuse and VAWG.
These include:
Ending discharge from public institutions/statutory services into homelessness. This should ensure that victim-survivors are not obligated to return to accommodation with abusers; reduce the risk of sexual exploitation and VAWG frequently experienced by young people leaving care; prevent perpetrators returning to the accommodation of victim-survivors on release; and prevent the high risk of VAWG experienced by women who become homeless.
Strengthened protections for victim-survivors to leave joint tenancy agreements.
New statutory guidance to address the barriers faced by survivors of domestic abuse with debt when applying for social housing.
Cross-departmental engagement and new legislation on a ‘Duty to collaborate’ to prevent homelessness, which will compel public services to work together to prevent homelessness and support those in crisis.
£3.5 billion of funding to end homelessness including:
£56 million to address Multiple Disadvantage.
£480 million investment in Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation.
New Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant from 2026/27.
These commitments are welcome, and if delivered successfully, they stand to make a meaningful difference for victim-survivors of domestic abuse experiencing homelessness and unsafe accommodation.
We remain clear that the delivery and implementation of this strategy must be ambitious. Funding for domestic abuse must be protected and ring-fenced and it is vital that there are clear processes of accountability and evaluation of the impact and engagement made by departments, agencies and local authorities, and consistent and ongoing consultation with the third sector, specialist services and survivors.
“Domestic abuse remains one of the leading causes of homelessness, and we are pleased to see this recognised in the Government’s new Homelessness Strategy. We also welcome the focus on survivors facing multiple disadvantage, and the specific commitment to a Whole Housing Approach. What matters now is delivery -survivors need ambition in how this plan is put into practice. We look forward to working with partners and with Government to connect theory with strategy with delivery.”
Emma Storey, Executive Director of Housing, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse.