6.1 The council’s priorities are to support people experiencing domestic abuse to stay safe and to protect their housing security. Staff will provide advice and support to help people experiencing domestic abuse to consider safe housing options. This may include staying safely in their home or relocating.
6.2 Advice is available for all Norwich residents regardless of whether the person owns or rents their home:
6.3 The council have legal duties to prevent and relieve homelessness and will offer advice and support based on individual circumstances.
6.4 Housing Advice staff receive domestic abuse awareness training and are able to complete Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment, (DASH) risk assessments.
6.5 There is an extremely high demand for housing in Norwich and what we can offer will depend on what is available and suitable to meet the person’s needs at the time.
6.6 Safety will be prioritised while also ensuring that the wishes, feelings and needs of household members are appropriately considered.
6.7 Staff will speak separately with victims and alleged perpetrators. They will offer advice and support to assist those experiencing domestic abuse to reduce risk and remain safe.
This may include:
- Referral to a specialist domestic abuse advisor
- Help to stay safely in the home and installation of additional security measures via the council’s sanctuary scheme
- Help finding safe emergency accommodation or refuge
- A personal housing plan
- Support to access other services to support the wellbeing and welfare needs of the household occupants.
- Advice on other legal remedies
6.8 In all cases the council will follow its usual Home Options, homelessness prevention and relief processes.
6.9 Where possible we will support people at risk of domestic abuse to avoid homelessness and remain safe within their home.
6.10 If staying is not viable, we will work with the person to consider a range of options and explain what support is available to access them.
6.11 If the location of the property is the issue and the risks cannot be reduced, a move to a different area may be appropriate. In this situation, victims would be assessed in accordance with legislation and policy and assisted to support a move as quickly as possible. In such circumstances the victim would receive only one property offer in an area in which they are assessed as being safe from risk. If people experiencing domestic abuse wish to move within Norwich, the usual Home Options and allocations processes apply and applicants will be banded according to need.
6.12 Whether Home Options banding is an appropriate and safe solution will depend on the level of urgency, nature of the risk and whether the victim would be safe in Norwich. This can only be determined after a detailed assessment and interview which would usually be carried out by the council’s Domestic Abuse Advisor.
6.13 We recognise that approaching the council for help can be difficult for some people and will provide support at every stage. Where information is requested, we ask residents to:
- Give as much information as possible
- Send documents quickly to avoid delays
- Ask for support with processes whenever needed
6.14 Norwich is a relatively small city and if it is assessed that the victim is unsafe in Norwich they would be referred to make a homelessness application to another local authority area.
6.15 The Housing Options team hold a Safe at Home budget, which may be available to provide additional home security to those wishing to remain in their own home. In addition, other financial support (such as access to Rent Deposit and Spend to Save schemes) may be available to people wishing to relocate.
6.16 We do not generally encourage victims of domestic abuse to carry out a mutual exchange. Our priority is ensuring people access a safe and secure environment and we do not consider that mutual exchanges usually fulfil these criteria. However, each case will be assessed on an individual basis, including consideration of the risks.
6.17 Where appropriate, specialist advice, for example from the Independent Domestic Violence Advisory (IDVA), Service will be sought.
