The government says that more victims of domestic abuse will receive better protection as local authorities receive nearly £500 million to provide support in safe accommodation, part of the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which is being announced this week.

According to the government, £19 million uplift is expected to support an extra 4,900 households needing safety, meaning the total funding is expected to help nearly 140,000 people, including women and their children, over the next three years.

The support fund has proven to be effective, with figures showing funding helped almost 77,000 survivors and children access safe accommodation and support in 2024-25, the government says.

As part of the Violence against Women and Girls strategy, due to be launched later this week, the full power of the state will be deployed in the largest crackdown on violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history, ministers say.

At the heart of the support is a commitment to safety and stability. Survivors and their children will be able to access support in safe accommodation, such as domestic abuse refuges, in confidential locations, far from the reach of perpetrators. This includes tailored move-on support to help women secure long-term housing and rebuild their lives.

For those who choose to remain in their own homes, local authorities can deliver Sanctuary Schemes offering practical measures that transform a victim’s own home into safe spaces, with expert support to help victims and their children recover and move on with their lives. These schemes combine essential security upgrades such as lock changes, window locks and alarms with specialist domestic abuse support to help survivors stay safe, to give peace of mind and protection where they need it most.

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said: “No one should have to choose between staying in an unsafe home or facing homelessness.

“We’re treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency, with a clear commitment to halve it in the next decade.

“This funding will help local authorities provide safe accommodation and tailored support, including refuges and Sanctuary Schemes, so every survivor can access safety, stability and a fresh start.”

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said: “With government and society united, we can achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls within a decade. That means bearing down on abusers but also giving survivors the support and resources they desperately need to rebuild their lives.

“This funding will ensure victims remain safe while preventing their abusers from inflicting further unnecessary suffering.”

Latest government statistics show that over one in 10 people who are made homeless or at risk of homelessness were fleeing domestic abuse. Research from the Rough Sleeping Questionnaire 2025 reveals nearly 70% of women who slept rough last year had experienced domestic abuse since age 16, showing how vital these services are for keeping people safe and with a roof over their head.

Local government funding for homelessness, rough sleeping and domestic abuse is now streamlined into a single ringfenced grant, enabling councils to plan holistically and adopt innovative prevention strategies, including support for domestic abuse survivors. As part of the new homelessness strategy, the government is also creating a practical toolkit, drawing on best practice such as the Whole Housing Approach and sanctuary schemes to help councils keep survivors safe at home where possible and provide trauma-informed support when they need to flee.

The homelessness strategy also includes £55.8 million to offer intensive support to help some of the most vulnerable people – including women experiencing domestic abuse and with complex needs. Funding will improve coordination across health, housing and justice, helping people access the help they need across several services.

Earlier this year the government legislated to prevent councils from using a local connection test when victims of domestic abuse apply for social housing. This means they can better access the home they need safely away from their abuser and where possible, with the support of family or friends nearby.

More than half a billion pounds is also being invested in support services to help domestic abuse victims and witnesses navigate the justice process. The £550 million funding, allocated over the next three years, will strengthen specialist services that provide practical and emotional assistance, including counselling and guidance on attending court, ensuring survivors receive the support they need at every stage.

Lisa Sutton, Head of Sustainable Communities at Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (bdht), said: “The launch of the government’s landmark Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy is a critical move in the crackdown on violence against women and girls.

“At bdht, we see first-hand the devastating link between domestic abuse and housing instability. We are particularly heartened by the investment into safe accommodation and the expansion of Sanctuary Schemes, empowering survivors to remain in their own homes and maintain local support networks where it is safe to do so.

“Housing providers are often the first point of contact in domestic abuse situations so the success of this strategy will depend on local delivery. We look forward to working closely with our local authority partners to ensure this funding plan reaches the front line in Bromsgrove.”