The government has previewed its much anticipated Violence against Women and Girls strategy, announcing nearly £1 billion in funding over the next three years to invest in counselling, court guidance and children’s services to support victims. The strategy is expected to be announced this week.
A further £19 million to provide safe accommodation has already been announced, adding to the £480 million confirmed in local government budgets and £550 million across the justice system over the next three years.
The £19 million will support 4,900 households needing safety, with as many as 140,000 people expected to be supported through the additional funding. The latest figures show almost 77,000 survivors and children were provided with safe accommodation and support in 2024-25.
In the last week, the government has committed to a new homelessness strategy, which allocates £55.8 million to support the most vulnerable, including women experiencing domestic abuse and those with complex needs.
Local government funding for homelessness, rough sleeping and domestic abuse is now streamlined into a single ring-fenced grant, enabling councils to plan holistically and adopt innovative prevention strategies, including support for domestic abuse survivors.
As part of the new homelessness strategy, the government is also creating a practical toolkit to help councils keep survivors safe at home where possible and provide trauma-informed support.
Responding to the announcement, Irpreet Kohli, family partner at Freeths, said:
“This announcement is a significant step forward in protecting survivors of domestic abuse and ensuring they have access to safe accommodation and tailored support. As family lawyers, we see first-hand the devastating impact abuse can have on individuals and families. The commitment to refuges, Sanctuary Schemes, and holistic support is vital in helping survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
“Securing safe accommodation is often the first step in the longer process of formalising a separation, a process in which feeling physically and emotionally safe is important. As a profession, we remain dedicated to guiding clients through these challenging times, ensuring they understand their rights, have access to the resources they need and have a clear strategy to enable them to have a fresh start.”
Latest government statistics show that over one in 10 people who are made homeless or at risk of homelessness were fleeing domestic abuse. Research from the Rough Sleeping Questionnaire 2025 revealed nearly 70% of women who slept rough last year had experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern said:
“No one should have to choose between staying in an unsafe home or facing homelessness. We’re treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency, with a clear commitment to halve it in the next decade.
“This funding will help local authorities provide safe accommodation and tailored support, including refuges and Sanctuary Schemes, so every survivor can access safety, stability and a fresh start.”
Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, added:
“With government and society united, we can achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls within a decade. That means bearing down on abusers but also giving survivors the support and resources they desperately need to rebuild their lives.
“This funding will ensure victims remain safe while preventing their abusers from inflicting further unnecessary suffering.”
