Finding emergency housing if you feel unsafe

Ask for short-term emergency housing if you feel unsafe in your home. Do not wait for something to happen. This could be physical or emotional abuse, threatening or controlling behaviour.

How to recognise abuse (Refuge)

Get advice

Contact a domestic abuse organisation to get advice about your situation. Try calling when you are alone. They will talk you through your options for leaving your home or see if you can stay in your home safely. You can contact:

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women on 0808 2000 247
• Live Fear-Free Helpline in Wales on 0808 80 10 800
• Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327
• Sign Health for deaf people on 020 3947 2601 or text on 07970 350366
• Respond for people with learning disabilities and autism on 020 7383 0700
• National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428
• Karma Nirvana for honour-based abuse and forced marriage on 0800 5999 247
• Rights of Women for free legal advice for women on 020 7251 6577

Accessing short-term emergency housing

There are 2 ways of accessing short-term emergency housing:

• through a referral to a refuge
• with help from your local authority

The accommodation available may not be in your area, and you may have to move away.

If you are renting and worried about your contract, it's best to leave your home first. Support officers can help you sort out your tenancy later.

Referral to a refuge

A refuge is safe accommodation for women experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse. If you're in this situation, call a domestic abuse organisation or helpline. They will help you find a refuge to contact. If you're low on credit, the adviser may contact the refuge for you.

The refuge will help you make a plan to leave your home safely. They may also be able to help you move. Some women stay at refuges for a few weeks or months while they look for longer-term housing options.

Support from a local authority

If you feel physically or emotionally unsafe at home, local authorities must help you find safe accommodation or help you be safe in your home. This can be your local authority or one in another area. You must meet certain immigration and residence conditions for them to support you.

Immigration and residence restrictions (Shelter England)

Emergency housing

You will get emergency housing if you meet immigration conditions and you are:

• pregnant or have children living with you
• considered vulnerable, for example due to domestic abuse, physical or mental health conditions

Find your local authority (GOV.UK)

Accommodation options are limited, but councils must try to take your needs into account. This includes access needs and any health services you use regularly. You may initially stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast. But the local authority has a duty to help you with long-term housing.

The council may not help further if you reject the accommodation they offer. If it's unsuitable for you, it's best to accept the offer and then get legal advice.

Check if you're eligible for Civil Legal Aid (GOV.UK)

Help if you're homeless: domestic abuse (Shelter England)

If you stay in your home

If you decide to stay in your home, you can still access support.

If you are not eligible for short-term emergency accommodation, think about how you can be safe. You should try to:

• stay in touch with your family and friends as much as possible
• set up a code word or signal you can text someone close to you if you feel threatened
• save emergency and helpline numbers in your phone
• have a small amount of cash on you
• keep a bag of essential items in a safe place or with a neighbour, including forms of ID, bank statements and any letters about debt
• make a safety plan in case you need to leave quickly

Making a safety plan (Women's Aid)