NEW REFUGE NETWORK FOR MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Dawn Hardie and Rachel Allen have opened up a new network of refuges in Northamptonshire for male victims of domestic violence. The network through their Next Steps Housing Association has created 100 places in 35 refuge houses across Northamptonshire for husbands and partners of abusive women.Coverage was received here (link, link, link).

With the emerging evidence (link) through the British Crime Survey that 3.2 million men have been a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime, is clear that some people such as Dan and Rachel are taking it seriously.

Now we wait on the Government, local authorities and others to take up the cudgels or are male victims going to be left with a clutch of refuges in Northamptonshire, Wales, The West Midlands and the South West and nothing else?

Comments

[Tina Claridge]

i am interested in setting up a home and providing support to male victims of domestic violence. How do i go about doing this ?

[Groan]

Dear Tina

You need to talk to the local Housing Department of your Council. Specifically ask to speak to the "Supporting People" team. Refuges are usually funded through a benefit called supporting people. There is generally a gap for men with children and women with older teenage sons (women with teenage sons can't access many women's refuges). Single men are right of the bottom of the list for help with housing too! But there isn't that greater interest in their problems.