Hart District Council has led a successful bid to government for £312,000 to tackle domestic abuse across Hampshire.
The Council will use the funding to support the Hampshire Making Safe scheme which works with victims of domestic abuse, enabling them to stay safe in their own home. A team of workers across Hampshire will work with clients to safety plan, provide ongoing support and on a very practical level, fit security equipment in their homes to keep them safe from perpetrators.
The big advantage of the Hampshire Making Safe Scheme is that victims do not need to flee their homes in order to stay safe, allowing spaces in refuges to be reserved for the most extreme cases. This minimises disruption to families, meaning they won’t need to move out of area and disrupt the schooling of their children. The scheme aims to provide help to around 280 clients.
Cllr Stephen Gorys, Cabinet Member for Housing at Hart District Council, said: “Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that impacts on the lives of the whole family. We are so pleased to be able to help people to stay safe in their own home. Each year across Hampshire around 500 adults and 600 children apply for refuge accommodation because they fear for their safety. Empowering these people to stay safe in their own homes is a marvellous thing to do.”
The project is a partnership between the 11 councils, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Hampshire Police, the Blue Lamp Trust and the two domestic abuse providers You Trust and Southern Domestic Abuse Service.
The project will also work with private sector landlords in Hampshire to secure accommodation for women who are ready to move out of refuge accommodation, through funding to provide rent deposits.
For more information about the project, please contact Hart District Council’s housing projects team on 01252 774420.
