Get help
- If you are in danger right now, call the police on 999
- If you cannot speak – cough or tap the handset and press 55 when someone answers the call.
- If you need immediate protection, apply for a non-molestation order
- This is a civil court order preventing someone from contacting you or coming near you. A breach is a criminal offence.
- You can get help to apply through CourtNav.
- Find out more information on other protective orders and schemes.
- For support to leave, call the free helplines
- In Kent and Medway, anyone can contact Victim Support on 0808 16 89 111 (8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday)
- For those with hearing or communication impairments, you can use the Relay UK app or contact them in British Sign Language. If English is not your first language, translators can be provided free of charge.
- Outside of these times you can use Victim Support’s live chat, call them on 0808 168 9111 or call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Things to remember
1
You’re not alone:
There are many resources and professionals available to help you and your child.
2
You have options:
When you’re ready, a range of options are available for you to stay safe in your current home or find a new place to live.
3
It’s your choice:
You have a say in what happens next. Support is there every step of the way.
Your housing options
Leaving an abusive relationship is hard and we know it can be confusing to know what options are available to you. We’re with you every step of the way, our specialist teams can help you build the life you deserve.
Home security measures can be applied to make your home safe, if you want to stay.
Consider if this is the safest option for you and your family by exploring the ways to keep yourself safe.
In Kent
The SAFER Scheme installs enhanced home security measures to help you stay safe in your own home, when the person using abusive behaviours no longer lives there and doesn’t have access to the home. They might provide advice or security measures like crime deterrents or new door locks. Any practitioner can refer into the scheme, which is funded by Kent County Council and means there is no cost.
Once security enhancements have been installed individuals and families in the home can also access the following services:
- Safe Accommodation Support Service – which supports children and young people process witnessing domestic abuse.
- Cyber Sanctuary – which provides specialist support helping victims stay safe online by securing devices, accounts, and home networks.
The above schemes are availabile by professional referral only. If you are a professional and want to make a referral to any of these schemes, visit how we support adults.
Therapeutic mental health recovery support is available for you and your children, from trained care workers, including 1:1 and group session and activities.
In Medway
The free Sanctuary Scheme, similar to the Kent SAFE Scheme, is available via Oasis Domestic Abuse Support Service on 0800 917 9948 or visit Oasis Domestic Abuse Service for more information about Medway Sanctuary support.
You can move to a safe temporary home with your family, until you find a permanent housing solution.
Independent and shared housing
This type of accommodation keeps you relatively close to your support system and the life you’ve built, as much as possible. You receive a package of support from domestic abuse specialists who are expertly trained to support you to gain safety and begin your recovery journey.
- Kent residents: self-contained and shared accommodation, dependent on your location and availability, within Kent (may not be your local area).
- Medway residents: self-contained accommodation are available, dependent on your location and availability, within Medway.
Refuge
Refuge is a temporary safe place for you and your family, until you find a permanent housing solution. This type of accommodation may be further away than your current home, in Kent and Medway or another place in England.
- Kent residents: self-contained and shared refuges across Kent, either close to you or in another part of the county.
- Medway residents: to reduce risk of harm to you and others from the abusive person(s), refuges for you are outside of the Medway area. Self-contained or shared accommodation is available for non-Medway residents.
You will be provided with a dedicated support worker who will assist you with financial management, access to GPs, and communication with support organisations to help you find a permanent housing solution.
If you would like to go to a refuge call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Pet care
Pet-friendly safe housing is available in selected areas, or free foster care through Dogs Trust or Cats Protection is available until you find a permanent place to stay.
If you aren’t safe at home, moving may be the best way to protect you and your family.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and it isn’t safe for you to stay at home and you have nowhere else to go, you will be considered homeless.
All councils have a duty to support eligible people who are homeless because of domestic abuse, and you should be considered in priority need for accommodation support.
You can approach any council in the country for homelessness assistance if you are fleeing domestic abuse, regardless of whether you have a local connection to that area or not. Councils must not refer you to an area where you or your family would be at risk of harm.
Most councils will have information on how to apply as homeless on their websites. You don’t need to have reported any incidents to the police to be able to make a homeless application.
You can only pursue one application for homeless assistance, so consider the safety of the area you wish to approach before you apply.
Kent Home Choice is the first step for registering a need for social housing, for people on low incomes and those at risk of homelessness in Kent and Medway.
Additional support
Recovery support
Read more about Recovery supportIn Kent and Medway there are lots of different groups designed to help people affected by domestic abuse to process their experiences, learn about the tactics of control and heal.
To find out more about the types of support visit Support for Adults. For service details visit the service map.
Support for children and young people
Read more about Support for children and young peopleWe have a specialist programme to help your child/children feel safe now and in the future. Every child and young person is different – the Safe Accommodation Support Service (SASS) works with 0 to 18 years (25 for those with special education needs and/or disability), where the SAFER scheme has already been applied to a property, to understand their needs and build resilience and confidence through specialist practice.
This may include:
- Therapeutic 1-1 support from an appropriately qualified practitioner
- Group based support
- Development of talents and interests and support to access activities/social groups
- Re-establishing a sense of routine and familiar activities
- Engagement and advocacy with other support agencies for an holistic approach to their wellbeing
Support is focused on helping children and young people to have better emotional health, health and well-being and develop local support systems.
Referrals are by practitioners only.
Universal Credit Housing Support
Read more about Universal Credit Housing SupportIf you temporarily leave home because of domestic abuse, Universal Credit can help.
If you intend to return, you can get the housing element paid for both your permanent home and your temporary accommodation at the same time. This will be paid for:
- Up to 12 months if you stay within England, Scotland, or Wales.
- Up to 6 months if you move outside of Great Britain.
More information can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
Council Tax Advice
Read more about Council Tax AdviceIf you leave your home but don’t end your tenancy (or still own the property), you are usually still responsible for the Council Tax.
You might also be responsible for Council Tax at your new temporary property.
Council Tax is a priority debt.
- Contact your local council to explain your situation:
- While not a legal requirement, many local councils have special arrangements to pause enforcement action or support you with bills while you are escaping domestic abuse.
I had every safety net available to me from the domestic abuse support services.
I had cameras, a panic alarm, a mentor – loads of support. It made such a difference.
Lilly
Resources to support practitioners
- The Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Partnership has created a range of tools to help you support people affected by domestic abuse to find and choose the safe accommodation option that’s right for them.
- Download the tools or get in touch to order your copies of the Finding Safe Housing brochure and Safe Accommodation poster at daprojects@kent.gov.uk
- Share our social media awareness campaign on your channels using the pre-prepared posts.
