As part of WHQ’s What I’d Change about Housing and the Law feature, Louise Kingdon calls for wider action on domestic abuse.
I would push through Theresa May’s draft Domestic Violence Bill but have it supported by the rest of government policy. Widening the definition of abuse, particularly to include economic control, is very welcome news and there is no denying the good intentions that are being displayed here. But the Bill does not address the other legislation that puts vulnerable partners in increasingly dangerous positions. Joint payments under universal credit have reshaped the benefits system to assist abusers, and the proposal to restrict the use of housing benefit for refuges will halve the sector’s funding.
Lives will be lost directly because of these policies as those fleeing danger at home, often with nothing, need to have access to guaranteed, safe accommodation.
Louise Kingdon, digital development officer, Melin Homes
If you would like to contribute to Part 2 of this feature, tell WHQ what you would change about the law in relation to housing and why by emailing the editor, Jules Birch, at jules@julesbirch.com