Frequently asked questions about refuges
- Who can go into a refuge?
- What is a refuge like? Will I have my own self-contained flat?
- How will I get there, will a worker pick me up?
- What about my children? What about my 15 year old son?
- Can women without dependant children go into a refuge?
- Will the workers be there 24 hours a day?
- How long can I stay in a refuge? How long will it take to get re-housed?
- Will I have to pay to stay in a refuge?
- I have no money of my own what will I do?
- What about my furniture?
- What about my pets?
- Do I have to have the police involved?
- Will social services get involved?
- Will I have to get a divorce?
- What about my alcohol dependency? I’m on a methadone programme can I go into a refuge?
- I am a drug user can I go into a refuge?
- I have mental health issues can I go into a refuge?
- Can I talk to someone about refuges?
Who can go into a refuge?
Any woman age 16 or over who is experiencing domestic abuse, can go into a refuge, however, some refuges will only accept women aged over 18. The abuse has to be from a current or former partner, including a same sex partner or husband, or a close family member such as father, brother, mother etc. This includes being forced to marry. Women do not have to have suffered physical violence to go into a refuge; emotional/psychological abuse, financial and sexual abuse are recognised as being domestic abuse. The reason why you now need to go into a refuge needs to be a current fear of further abuse.
What is a refuge like? Will I have my own self-contained flat?
Not all refuges are the same. Some are new purpose built buildings, and others are converted houses. In the older refuges families will have their own bedroom but will have to share other amenities. A few will have self-contained units, others ensuite bathrooms.
How will I get there, will a worker pick me up?
Due to safety reasons it is highly unlikely that refuge workers will be able to pick you up, even if you live quite local to the refuge. Some refuge groups will arrange to meet a woman somewhere but generally you have to make your own way to the refuge. If you have contact with other agencies such as the police or social services they may agree to drop you off. If you have money to travel to a refuge you should keep receipts, as if youre in receipt of income support you can apply for a community care grant from the Jobcentre Plus in retrospect. If you have no money you can apply for a social fund loan/community care grant. Anyone can apply for a crisis loan from the Jobcentre Plus; you do not have to be in receipt of any benefits. Social services may also help by providing a travel warrant. You can ask a trusted female friend or relative to take you, with the agreement of the refuge involved.
What about my children? What about my 15 year old son?
Most refuges now have paid childrens workers whose priority is supporting children and young people in the refuge. Services for children range from play sessions to more therapeutic work (either provided by the childrens workers or via referral to more specialist services). Nearly all refuges have a playroom and other facilities for children. Some run play schemes in the holidays and have after school activities. Male children can go into a refuge with their mother/female carer; however, there is an upper age limit on male children at most refuges. Some refuges will not have male children from the age of 12 others set the limit at school age (16 years). Some refuges will accept boys over the age of 16 ands under 19 if they are still classed as dependent on you i.e. in further education. You need to check with the refuge.
Can women without dependent children go into a refuge?
Yes, refuges are for women both with and without children.
Will the workers be there 24 hours a day?
Some refuges are staffed 24 hours. This can mean that although a refuge worker is on the premises they do not work all night. They do a ‘sleep in’. Most refuges are staffed Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, outside of these hours there is usually an emergency pager system in operation.
How long can I stay in a refuge? How long will it take to get re-housed?
Some women go into a refuge for just a few days, for a breathing space and to think about their options. Others stay until they are re-housed or until they have sought legal/criminal remedies in order to return home safely. The time it takes to get re-housed varies between local authorities (area that the woman wants to be re-housed in). Some areas are still quite quick with women being re-housed within a few months, in others it can take up to a year. With limited housing stock it is becoming more common for women not to have a real choice of area when it comes to re-housing.
Will I have to pay to stay in a refuge?
Refuges are funded by funds from the government paid via the local authority and rental income. Each woman is charged a weekly rent; the cost of refuge accommodation varies between refuges. How much you have to pay towards the rent will depend on your income. The refuge workers will help you fill in a housing benefit claim form, on which an assessment will be made. Women that are in paid employment can also make a claim for housing benefit, in most cases you will not receive full housing benefit and so will have to make a contribution towards the rent. All women will have to pay an element of rent that is housing benefit ineligible; this covers things such as electricity and gas bills. The cost of this element varies between refuges.
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Where will the refuge be? Will I be able to choose the area I want to go to?
There are refuges in most towns and cities, however, it will depend on where there is space available, is that space big enough for you (and children)? Is the area where the refuge is a safe area for you? As part of the risk assessment refuge workers will assess the safety of the area i.e. that the person you are escaping abuse from doesnt have any work, friends or family contact with the area.
I have no money of my own what will I do?
Women can claim benefits/tax credits in their own right once they have left their abusive partner. The refuge workers will help you in making a claim for the correct benefit. The amount or type of benefit or tax credits that you may be entitled to is dependent upon your current circumstances, for example the number of dependent children, any income or savings.
What about my furniture?
You cannot take furniture into a refuge, due to lack of storage space. Most refuges will let women take in portable items such as TVs, stereos etc and of course you can take clothing and other personal belongings. Some local authorities (councils) store furniture for women that have applied to them as being homeless due to domestic abuse. There may be a charge for this once youre re-housed. Other than this you can arrange furniture storage yourself, but there will be a charge.
What about my pets?
You cannot take your pets into a refuge. A few local authorities may kennel pets for women. Paws for Kids is an organisation that was set up to foster the pets of women that go into a refuge in the north west. Paws for Kids 01204 394 842. The refuge workers will help you access the service.
Do I have to have the police involved?
The police do not have to be involved in the incidents of domestic abuse at the point of referral to a refuge. Nor will a woman be forced to involve the police once she goes to stay in a refuge. See below for child protection, in which case if there are child protection issues then the police may become involved even if this is against your wishes.
Will social services get involved?
In most cases the answer to this is no, although some refuges will access social services to carry out a child protection check. If there are concerns around child protection or a child has been abused at home then the refuge workers would have a duty to inform social services. Where practical this would be discussed with the woman first.
Will I have to get a divorce?
There is no requirement for a woman to take any legal action and this includes getting a divorce or obtaining a legal separation.
What about my alcohol dependency? I’m on a methadone programme-can I go into a refuge?
Some refuges will consider accepting a woman with alcohol issues or who is on a methadone programme. Often refuges say that if the woman is on a recognised programme or willing to go on one they will consider her. This can also depend on whether they already have a woman staying at the refuge with additional support needs.
I am a drug user-can I go into a refuge?
Very few refuges will accept women who are currently taking/using illegal substances. It can depend on what support you are receiving from relevant agencies.
I have mental health issues-can I go into a refuge?
This will depend on what your needs are and if the refuge is able to offer the appropriate support.
Women with any additional support need can be ‘considered’ for refuge accommodation.
The provision of such accommodation will be dependant on several factors:
- Are you able to care yourself (and children)?
- Would your lifestyle impact negatively on other residents in the refuge?
- Is the refuge physically accessible for you/your child if there are mobility issues?
- Are the refuge workers able to offer the appropriate support?
Women who cannot (or may not) be considered for refuge accommodation:
- Women convicted of arson
- Women who are schedule one offenders i.e. women who have committed offences against children
- Women with recent or serious offences for violence
- Women who have been asked to leave (evicted) from other refuge accommodation, although this can sometimes depend on the reason they were asked to leave
- Women who are not able to care for themselves i.e. cook, clean, shop etc. However if the woman has a carer (a woman who receives Carer’s Allowance in respect of the woman) then refuges should be able to consider the woman and carer if they have enough room to accommodate.
Can I talk to someone about refuges?
Yes you can contact the Helpline 0161 636 7525 and we will talk to you about refuges and we can let you know where the bed space is. We have access to information on refuges and domestic abuse services throughout the UK. We can also talk to you about other options that may be available to you.
If a woman is not able to access refuge accommodation she will be advised about homeless families or single person’s temporary accommodation.
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