Saturday, April 30, 2011

Domestic violence victims could be left on the streets – cuts warning

WOMEN fleeing violent partners could be left on the streets following a �5 million cut in funding for the homeless.

Leading charity body Homeless Link has warned housing services and shelters in the city will suffer due to "unjustifiable" budget cuts.

Hull's Supporting People budget, which provides housing support for victims of domestic violence, those with mental health problems and older people, is being slashed from �11.1 million last year to �6 million.

Homeless charity Doorstep of Hull has been forced to close its vulnerable women project, which supports those fleeing domestic violence and prostitution, as a direct result of the cuts.

Numerous other homeless charities such as Hull Harp and Humbercare are reigning in services to cope with reduced funding.

The city council has been criticised for reducing the budget by 45 per cent, despite Government grant cuts of only eight per cent this year.

Jenny Edward, chief executive of Homeless Link, which represents 500 charities in the UK, said: "Homelessness services do more than just provide a bed, they give a reason to get out of it.

"They help people who have hit rock bottom to regain their confidence, gain skills, sort out health issues and move on into homes and jobs.

"The evidence is clear – if you cut homeless services today, communities are highly likely to pay tomorrow – seeing higher rates of addiction, ill health and antisocial behaviour."

In a survey of 84 councils, Hull was named as one of five local authorities making the most disproportionate cuts to its Supporting People funding.

Doorstep of Hull has laid off 10 of its 24 staff.

Before the cuts it was able to offer secure shelter to more than 30 vulnerable women each year.

Now it focus solely on their young homeless people's project.

Peter Drinkell, project director of Doorstep of Hull, said: "We receive about 1,200 referrals a year.

"Of that number, we can probably take on no more than 300 to 350 and that is before any bed spaces were lost out of the Supporting People programme.

"There are far more people who want these services then can get them."

Kayleigh, 20, of west Hull was forced out of home by a family fall out.

She said: "Doorstep has been a really big help for me.

"I had to get out of my flat and if I couldn't come here I don't know where I would have gone.

"I would have to sleep on a friend's floor but that would only be a short term solution.

"The idea services like this could be cut does worry me when I think about the other people who might end up without anywhere to go."

Hull City Council leader Carl Minns claimed the figures were deceptive, pointing out the council supports vulnerable people through many sources.

Mr Minns said: "Yes, funding for Supporting People is being cut by roughly �5 million.

"But that's not the only budget the council has or uses with regard to housing support.

"It is not representative of the total the council spends on this.

"We have got money allocated for social housing. "Grants for domestic violence refuges haven't been touched."



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503342/s/1485b8d9/l/0L0Sthisishullandeastriding0O0Cnews0CDomestic0Eviolence0Evictims0Eleft0Estreets0Carticle0E350A57650Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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