A domestic abuse survivor who fled a violent home with her child has thanked our staff who helped her find safety and rebuild her life.
The woman said she believes her life would have been at risk had she not made the decision to leave and access specialist housing support services which helped her and her child stay safe and avoid homelessness.
Her experience is one example of how we are strengthening housing support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, helping more people access safe, stable accommodation across the county.
The work is part of a programme led by the community safety team to help us meet our duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. It is supported by nearly £600,000 of government funding over two years through the Domestic Abuse Grant and contributes to the delivery of the North Yorkshire and York Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024-2028.
Nationally, nearly 60,000 households in England were made homeless or faced homelessness due to domestic abuse between 2022 and 2023, according to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data.
And recent statistics from the National Police Chiefs’ Council shows that 150 victims of domestic abuse were suspected of taking their own lives in the year to March 2025, up from 98 suicides in the previous 12 months.
North Yorkshire’s rural and isolated geography can make it particularly difficult for people experiencing abuse to seek help or leave safely, with homes often located far from neighbours, services, and specialist support.
Executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, whose responsibilities include community safety, said: “Too many people are forced into homelessness as a result of domestic abuse, and limited refuge spaces do not always meet everyone’s needs.
“By strengthening our housing offer, we are giving victims and survivors greater choice, quicker access to support and safer places to live.”
Key to the approach is the creation of specialist housing roles. Two domestic abuse housing coordinators now work across the county, supporting housing teams, strengthening partnerships and helping prevent homelessness linked to domestic abuse.
They are complemented by four specialist domestic abuse housing practitioners, delivered in partnership with commissioned service IDAS, who provide frontline support to people in temporary or emergency accommodation and help survivors navigate the housing system.
Our staff were also invited to become domestic abuse champions, with 32 people having signed up to date. The opportunity was promoted through internal training sessions, helping to build greater knowledge, confidence and awareness among frontline housing teams and other frontline services.
Praising our work, the survivor, who is speaking anonymously, said leaving her home was the only way to protect her child and herself.
She said: “I knew that staying would have put my life at serious risk. 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.”
Initially, she stayed with other people before turning to the council for help.
She said: “Following an assessment, my child and I were placed in temporary accommodation and supported by a homelessness support worker.
“They helped me navigate the system, secure a private rented home and access support for the essentials we needed.
“That support gave us a safe, stable place of our own and the chance to rebuild our lives.”
She added: “Many people stay in abusive relationships because they see no safe way out. I am deeply grateful that support existed for me, and I hope others know that taking the first step can change everything.”
Domestic abuse housing coordinator, Kelly Jefferson, said: “This work is about far more than policy - it’s about supporting people at their most vulnerable moments.
“When someone is fleeing abuse, the fear of losing their home can feel overwhelming.
“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.”
Our work supports the North Yorkshire and City of York Domestic Abuse Strategy and contributes to the council’s wider efforts to improve housing services and work towards nationally recognised Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance accreditation.
Anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or concerned about someone else, can access confidential help and advice. Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) provides specialist support across North Yorkshire, including safety planning and help to find accommodation. Support is free and confidential and can be accessed via the IDAS website.
If someone is feeling overwhelmed or in distress, emotional support is available 24 hours a day from the Samaritans on 116 123. In an emergency, or if there is immediate danger, people should call 999.