Domestic abuse: Help if you’re homeless

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is from a partner, ex partner or a family member.

You do not have to live in the same home for it to be domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can include:

• emotional and psychological abuse

• violence, threats and sexual abuse

• controlling or spending your money

• monitoring your phone or social media

• telling you what to think or how to dress

• isolating you from friends, family or work

• making you do things you do not want to

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence.

See Victim Support: recognising the signs of domestic abuse.

Help from a council homeless team

You can ask any council for help to find another place to live.

The council must help you if you're at risk of domestic abuse.

Tell the council that you want to make a homeless application because of domestic abuse.

Which council to go to

You can choose which council you speak to.

You can apply to more than one council. It is usually better to apply to one council in the area where you want to be.

Think about where you:

• feel safest

• can get support from friends, family or organisations

The council cannot tell you to go to another area if you ask them for help.

They must not send you anywhere that would put you at risk of domestic abuse or other violence.

Proof of domestic abuse

The council should not ask you for proof of the abuse when you first ask for help.

If you say it is okay, the council can speak to:

• your friends or family

• domestic abuse support services

• social services or health professionals

• the police

The council must not approach your abuser.

If you cannot get help for immigration reasons

Some refuges have spaces for women who cannot get benefits or other housing help.

Talk to these charities if you have 'no recourse to public funds':

Southall Black Sisters
020 8571 0800
London

Safety4Sisters
0161 464 9505
North West England

Advice in a safe space

Many pharmacies, banks and some jobcentres have a room you can use as a safe space.

You can use a private room to:

• contact a domestic abuse charity

• talk to a friend or family member

Find a safe space on UK SAYS NO MORE.

Find a place in a refuge

Most refuges are for women and their children.

Some services are trans inclusive and some are for men.

These free helplines run by charities offer support and could help you find a refuge space:

National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247
For women

Men's Advice Line
0808 801 0327
For men

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 999 5428
For LGBTQ+ people

Karma Nirvana
0800 5999 247
For people at risk of honour based abuse or forced marriage

Hestia Refuge Referral Line
0808 169 9975
For people looking for refuge spaces in London

Free travel to a refuge

Ask your adviser about free travel to a refuge.

The refuge can book your train or coach tickets and send them to your phone.

Other support from domestic abuse charities

Domestic abuse charities can help with:

• planning and preparing to leave

• finding somewhere safe to stay

• talking to the council homeless team

• support and recovery from abuse

• advice on housing, money and your children

Ending your tenancy

You do not have to make a decision about your tenancy straight away.

You might want to return when it's safe, or you might not be sure right now.

If you think you could return in the next year, you could get help to pay the rent.

More on help with rent for the home you leave.

Get an abusive partner to leave your home

You could get a court order to make your partner or ex partner leave.

Find out:

• where to get free family law advice

• how to make an abusive partner or ex leave

Help to open a new bank account

You might need a new bank account to claim benefits if you had a shared bank account.

Some banks allow you to open a basic bank account without the usual ID or proof of address.

See Surviving Economic Abuse: opening a new bank account safely.