North Yorkshire survivor helped to safety by housing team

Aisha Patel 2026-06-09 12:24 5 min read

Two women sit at an office desk reviewing a brochure about domestic abuse support.

By the demoduck.co.uk news desk

Published in 2026

A domestic abuse survivor who fled a violent home with her child says specialist housing support in North Yorkshire helped them reach safety, avoid homelessness and begin rebuilding their lives.

The woman, who has spoken anonymously, said she believed her life would have been at risk if she had stayed. She left with her child, £60 and a car packed with essential belongings before seeking help through council housing services.

North Yorkshire Council says the case reflects wider work to strengthen housing support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse across the county. The programme is linked to duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and is supported by nearly £600,000 of government funding over two years through the Domestic Abuse Grant.

A safe home after fleeing abuse

The survivor said leaving was the only way to protect herself and her child. After initially staying with other people, she approached the council and was assessed for support.

She and her child were placed in temporary accommodation and helped by a homelessness support worker. That support included guidance through the housing system, help to secure a private rented home and assistance with essentials needed to make the move possible.

“I knew that staying would have put my life at serious risk,” she said. “With a young child to protect, I understood that true safety meant creating distance from the perpetrator. With just £60 to my name and a car packed with the bare essentials, I fled.”

She said the intervention gave her family a stable place to live and the chance to rebuild. Her account also points to one of the main barriers facing people escaping abuse: the fear that leaving may mean losing a home, income, possessions and immediate access to support.

“Many people stay in abusive relationships because they see no safe way out,” she said. “I am deeply grateful that support existed for me, and I hope others know that taking the first step can change everything.”

Specialist housing roles across the county

The housing support work is part of a programme led by North Yorkshire Council’s community safety team and contributes to the North Yorkshire and York Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024-2028.

Two domestic abuse housing coordinators now work across the county. Their role is to support housing teams, build links with partner organisations and help prevent homelessness connected to domestic abuse.

They are supported by four specialist domestic abuse housing practitioners, delivered in partnership with commissioned service IDAS. Those practitioners work with people in temporary or emergency accommodation and help survivors navigate housing options when they may be under immediate pressure.

Council staff have also been invited to become domestic abuse champions. According to the council, 32 people have signed up so far after the opportunity was promoted through internal training sessions for housing teams and other frontline services.

Cllr Heather Phillips, executive member for corporate services with responsibility for community safety, said the housing offer is intended to give victims and survivors more choice when refuge places are limited or not suitable for every situation.

“Too many people are forced into homelessness as a result of domestic abuse, and limited refuge spaces do not always meet everyone’s needs,” she said. “By strengthening our housing offer, we are giving victims and survivors greater choice, quicker access to support and safer places to live.”

Rural isolation can make leaving harder

Domestic abuse can become a housing crisis when victims have to leave quickly, cannot safely remain in the family home, or need emergency accommodation away from the perpetrator.

Nationally, nearly 60,000 households in England were made homeless or faced homelessness because of domestic abuse between 2022 and 2023, according to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data cited by the council.

The risks extend beyond housing loss. Recent National Police Chiefs’ Council statistics cited by the council show that 150 victims of domestic abuse were suspected of taking their own lives in the year to March 2025, up from 98 in the previous 12 months.

North Yorkshire’s geography adds further complications. Rural and isolated homes can be far from neighbours, transport routes, support services and specialist advice. For someone trying to leave safely, distance can affect how quickly they can get help, where they can stay and whether they can keep a new location confidential.

Domestic abuse housing coordinator Kelly Jefferson said the work is about helping people at a vulnerable point, whether they can remain safely in their own home or need to move quickly into stable accommodation.

“When someone is fleeing abuse, the fear of losing their home can feel overwhelming,” she said. “By working closely across housing teams, community safety partners and specialist organisations, we can help survivors remain safe in their own homes where possible, or move quickly into secure, stable accommodation so they can begin to rebuild their lives.”

Confidential help for people at risk

North Yorkshire Council says anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or worried about someone else, can seek confidential advice.

Independent Domestic Abuse Services provides specialist support across North Yorkshire, including safety planning and help to find accommodation. Support is free and confidential.

If someone is overwhelmed or in distress, emotional support is available 24 hours a day from Samaritans on 116 123. In an emergency, or if there is immediate danger, people should call 999.

Source: North Yorkshire Council

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