Finding emergency housing if you feel unsafe

Contact a domestic abuse organisation to get advice about your situation. Try contacting them when nobody is likely to disturb you. If you cannot do this at home, you could go to a friend’s house.

You may be able to find a safe space near you. UK Says No More works with pharmacies and banks to provide safe spaces in consultation rooms. It can be a way to find support or contact friends and family.

You can enter your postcode to find one near you.

Safe spaces locations (UK Says No More) 

You can get help by phone, text, email and live chat.

Click the links to find out how, or call on these phone numbers: 

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women on 0808 2000 247
• Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327
• Live Fear-Free Helpline in Wales on 0808 80 10 800
• Sign Health for deaf people on 020 3947 2600 or text on 07800 003421.
• 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

Phone numbers starting in 0808 and 0800 are free. These helplines are often busy. Leave a voicemail telling them how and when to call you safely. Or try calling again if you do not get through.

Bright Sky is an app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse. It is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Polish and Welsh.

Bright Sky app

You can access short-term emergency housing through:

• your local council or
• a referral to a refuge if you are experiencing domestic abuse

Accommodation may not be in your area. You may have to move away.

If you rent, you might be worried about your tenancy agreement. A support worker or housing officer can give you advice when you have moved into emergency housing. 

Referral to a refuge

A refuge is safe accommodation for people experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse.

If you are in this situation, call a domestic abuse organisation or helpline. An adviser can help you find a refuge space.

You can get a referral whether you rent or own your home. 

You can stay in a refuge while you look for longer-term housing options.

Get advice on domestic abuse

Support from your local council

If you are at risk of violence or domestic abuse, you may be classed as ‘legally homeless’. This means local councils must help you find safe accommodation or help you be safe in your home. This can be your local council or one in another area.

You must meet certain residence conditions for them to support you. There are different conditions for:

• British and Irish citizens 
• European Union citizens
• people who have been granted refugee status

Shelter has information for:

• people in asylum housing 
• families with children who cannot make a homeless application because of their immigration status

Getting emergency housing 

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

• pregnant or have children living with you
• homeless because of domestic abuse or violence 
• considered ‘vulnerable’, for example due to disability or serious health condition 

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

There are limited accommodation options, but councils must try to take your needs into account. This includes access needs and any health or care services you use regularly. The council may move you to another area to avoid seeing the person who abused you.

You may stay in a bed and breakfast or hotel to start with. But the local council has a duty to help you with long-term housing.

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

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

Help if you are homeless because of domestic abuse (Shelter)

If you decide to stay in your home, you can still access support. It may be possible to get an injunction because of domestic abuse. This is a court order to protect you and your children from the person who abused you. The injunction says who can stay in the home and who needs to leave.

Get an injunction if you have been the victim of domestic abuse (GOV.UK)

If you remain in your home, think about how you can stay safe. You can:

• 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, under different names if you can 
• 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, any letters about debt, medications and medical information
• make a safety plan in case you need to leave quickly

Making a safety plan (Women’s Aid)[AW3] 

Staying safe online (Safe Lives)