Domestic abuse strategy

It is nationally recognised that domestic abuse is a significant cause of homelessness. Survivors of domestic abuse who become homeless face multiple barriers to gaining a safe secure place to live. Housing is a basic need that must be met before other challenges can be addressed and housing providers play a vital role in the response to domestic abuse. 

Victims of domestic abuse should have access to safe accommodation and appropriate support services that is of the highest quality and tailored to the needs of the individual or family. This will be available to residents of North Tyneside and those who come from outside the local area. 

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a responsibility on tier one local authorities to assess the need for accommodation-based domestic abuse support in their area for all victims or their children, including those who come from outside the area. It requires the local authority to develop the appropriate strategic response which considers all other relevant strategic guidance (i.e. the Housing Act 1996, the Homeless Act 2002 and the Homeless Reduction Act 2017). It also recognises that the Act does not place a requirement on local authorities to provide domestic abuse victims with accommodation.

Safe accommodation is defined by the Act as:

• Refuge accommodation: a refuge offers single gender or single sex accommodation and domestic abuse support which is tied to that accommodation (this includes their children).
• Specialist safe accommodation: offering single gender or single sex accommodation, alongside dedicated domestic abuse support which is tailored to also support those who share particular protected characteristics.
• Dispersed accommodation: properties for survivors who may not be able to access traditional refuge accommodation.
• Sanctuary schemes which are a multi-agency victim centred initiative which aims to enable households at risk of violence to remain safely in their own homes.
• Move on or second stage accommodation: supported housing which provides the bridge to settled housing. 

Social Housing Regulation 2023

As well as requirements associated with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Social Housing Regulation 2023 includes specific requirements for tackling domestic abuse such as:

• Registered providers must have a policy for how they recognise and effectively respond to cases of domestic abuse.
• Registered providers must co-operate with appropriate local authority departments to support the local authority in meeting its duty to develop a strategy and commission services for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation.

The regulations aim to ensure that in delivering these requirements, providers have ensured that relevant staff are appropriately trained to support tenants, understand the circumstances surrounding their housing tenure, raise awareness regarding the support available, a victim centred approach including the recognition of protected characteristics, achieve accredited status related to domestic abuse, and ensure the appropriate governance regarding the Regulations. 

Housing and safe accommodation data

High quality data and intelligence plays a key role in ensuring a coordinated response to domestic abuse. The health needs assessment identified a range of needs which have helped inform the domestic abuse partnership. 

Safe accommodation provision

There are currently 22 units of safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims in North Tyneside. This includes 14 units of refuge accommodation and eight units of dispersed accommodation. There are currently no by-and-for specialist or second-stage accommodation units for domestic abuse victims in the borough. There is also a limited amount of safe accommodation for male victims of domestic abuse as they can currently only access the eight dispersed units. 

A recent Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment was commissioned by North Tyneside Council. It estimated need for an additional 15 units of safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims in the borough.

Support services

The new duty ensures that a range of domestic abuse support services are available locally. Presently, North Tyneside Council commissions domestic abuse services from two main providers. Harbour Support Services primarily supports adults and Acorns focuses on children and young people. The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner provides additional funding to the services commissioned by the Authority. Provision will constantly be reviewed to ensure it addresses local need and fulfils the statutory requirements of the Act.