Homelessness prevention by West Dunbartonshire Council

Holistic domestic abuse approach, covering victims & perpetrators

The context

In 2019 guidance for providers, Women’s Aid reports that the majority of housing policy and practice responses in Scotland are based on an expectation that women and children experiencing domestic abuse - rather than those who perpetrate it - need to leave the home. That ties into the position domestic abuse holds as the primary cause of women’s homelessness.

The guidance suggests an effective housing response to domestic abuse moves beyond simplistic approaches to both women and men. For victims, that means strengthening the focus on prevention and protecting women’s rights to remain in the home, rather than defaulting to homelessness and temporary accommodation. For perpetrators, it means considering their housing needs too, and how their homelessness may heighten risk to their victims.

The intervention

With the highest reported rate of domestic abuse in Scotland, in 2018, West Dunbartonshire Council recognised stronger leadership and a new approach were required to address the issue. 750 women had become homeless for this reason in the past five years - many from Council homes – yet housing was effectively absent from domestic abuse policy. Working closely with the local Violence Against Women partnership, the Council launched a zero tolerance approach: No Home for Domestic Abuse.

The Council recruited a domestic abuse liaison officer, enabling women in Council tenancies to access prompt practical help, legal assistance and ongoing specialist support following any incident. The focus is to support women and children to stay in the home and local area, if that is their choice, with enhanced security measures, such as CCTV, lock change or additional lighting. If temporary accommodation is needed, the option of returning home is explored again before a tenancy terminated for good.

The policy makes clear the Council would use the full scope of powers against perpetrators, including antisocial behaviour and matrimonial homes legislation to transfer a tenancy to the victim and remove a perpetrator where possible. Men whose tenancies are transferred to their partner may be offered another Council tenancy at a safe distance, and support to address their own behaviours.

The outcome

In its first year, No Home for Domestic Abuse supported 130 women, underlining the need for the service, which was subsequently mainstreamed. In three years, the service supported 426 women, with 159 properties receiving security enhancements. Nine perpetrators had their tenancy transferred to an ex-partner and accepted an offer of a (lower demand) Council home, at a safe distance. Three of the men who were rehoused subsequently (voluntarily) engaged in support. All but one of the women sustained her tenancy and avoided homelessness. The Council’s domestic abuse helpline has begun to receive more calls from men, often asking questions about their own behaviour.

The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021, which came into force in May 2021, gave Councils explicit powers to take removal action to protect domestic abuse victims. This enabled West Dunbartonshire to update its policy, whose intention pre-empted the legal change

Key insights

leadership, visibility and public messaging matter: No Home for Domestic Abuse sets a very clear tone and direction of travel, and is endorsed by a wide range of partners
it’s important to find a balance between taking clear action against perpetrators and recognising that their ongoing unresolved housing needs can put women at higher risk
local authorities with higher pressures on social housing may find it challenging to address the housing needs of perpetrators timeously using their own stock: linking with PRS access schemes might help

Find out more…

Scott McClelland, No Home for Domestic Abuse Lead, West Dunbartonshire Council.
scott.mclelland@west-dunbarton.gov.uk