Rough sleepers experiencing violence and abuse will be provided
with safe housing as part of a new pilot programme, Minister for
Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes announced today.
The Respite Rooms Trial Programme – first announced by the
Chancellor in the Budget – will see 12 local areas across England
share £3.7 million to fund accommodation and expert support for
victims of violence and abuse.
Under this pioneering initiative, safe housing will be offered to
victims of domestic abuse, rape or sexual assault, sex workers,
victims of exploitation, or violence who are sleeping rough or at
risk of rough sleeping.
The funding will create a total of 140 bed spaces and support an
estimated 1,100 people over a 12 month trial period.
The programme will provide a single gender spaces for victims
alongside specialist support from homelessness and domestic abuse
and violence against women and girls charities.
This will also include support those with multiple and complex
needs such as substance misuse, migrant victims of abuse, and
victims of sexual trafficking.
As part of the programme, victims will be offered advice and
support to access suitable more permanent safe accommodation.
Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, said:
Survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence or physical violence
need a safe place of refuge to escape these crimes and rebuild
their lives.
These respite rooms will provide a safe space and ensure
vulnerable people at risk of sleeping rough are supported in safe
housing with expert advice and counselling.
This programme is part of the government’s much wider action to
help the most vulnerable in our communities, with £750 million
investment this year to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
The 12 areas across England that will receive funding under the
trial programme are: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole,
Birmingham, Bristol, Camden, Hastings and East Sussex, Exeter,
Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Portsmouth and
Westminster.
Today’s announcement is part of the government’s comprehensive
plans to tackle domestic abuse and support victims of sexual
violence and abuse, and to support rough sleepers off the streets
for good.
Under the government’s ground-breaking Domestic Abuse Act 2021,
councils will be required to provide life-saving support in safe
accommodation for domestic abuse victims and their children who
require it, backed by £125 million of government funding.
This funding is part of the long-term strategy to provide
comprehensive support to victims, and in addition to £40 million
funding boost for victim support services announced earlier this
year, as well as a cross-government victims strategy that works
better for survivors.
Further information
A full breakdown of the allocations under the respite rooms trial
programme is below:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: £357,185
- Birmingham: £355,404
- Bristol: £350,000
- Camden: £491,388
- Hastings: £310,650
- Exeter: £266,803
- Leicester: £334,956
- Liverpool: £211,462
- Manchester: £140,215
- Nottingham: £349,407
- Portsmouth: £117,991
- Westminster: £451,210
The programme is aimed at supporting rough sleepers or those at
risk of sleeping rough who have experienced the following:
- domestic abuse
- sexual assault
- rape
- physical assault
- stalking/harassment
- exploitation by other rough sleepers
- sex work
