Addressing the need for these refuges, she said: “With two women a week dying due to domestic abuse and leaving being one of the most risky times for women, they need a safe place to go to”.
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THE WOMEN’S Equality Party today (Sept 5) urged Theresa May to honour her promise to “think not of the powerful, but you” by rethinking Conservative plans to slash benefit support for women fleeing domestic violence.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid England, said: ‘This latest crisis is just one crisis too many.
They are under threat due to a change in the way housing benefit is paid to supported and sheltered housing.
As a result of the cap, 67 per cent of refuges in England would be forced to close, while 87 per cent would be unable to continue their current levels in provision.
Housing benefit covers over 90% of rental costs and service charges for some women’s shelters.
A spokeswoman said it would more than reverse £33m worth of government support for the sector, promised after the closure of 17% of refuges since 2010 sparked a major outcry.
Sue Cox, the manager of a women’s refuge in Wiltshire, said the money went towards providing security and specialist support to women and their children, who often faced problems that went well beyond domestic violence.
Corbyn asked May: “Would she take action to make sure that the cap does not apply to Women’s Aid refuges in any part of Britain?” “WE say refuges must be exempted from this benefit cap, and that specialist services must be funded to deliver the services that are so desperately needed”. Calls are free and can be made 24 hours a day.
The Department for Work and Pensions has already deferred the social sector implementation of the cap while it conducts an assessment of its long-term sustainability.
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Earlier this year the national Housing Federation suggested that over 40% of specialist homes could be forced to close under the government’s proposals.
