Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the implications for government departments of the findings of the report entitled Mapping the Maze: services for women experiencing multiple disadvantage in England and Wales, published by Agenda and Against Violence and Abuse in September 2017.

We recognise victims of domestic violence have complex needs arising from long-term trauma or abuse, resulting in multiple disadvantages. We are fully committed to ensuring that no victim of domestic abuse is turned away from the support they need or are at risk of homelessness.

Since 2014, we have provided £33.5 million in funding for refuges, safe accommodation and other services for victims of domestic abuse and their children. For example, we are funding 80 projects across the country to provide safe accommodation and support services to victims of domestic abuse through our 2016-2018 £20 million domestic abuse fund, of which over 30 projects are focusing on improving access to support for women experiencing multiple disadvantages.

At Autmn Budget 2017, we also announced £28 million of funding to pilot the Housing First approach for the individuals with complex needs who are homeless, which could include victims of domestic abuse.

In addition, we have established a cross-Government Complex Needs Group, to develop a shared approach to support for vulnerable victims of domestic abuse with complex needs.