IMPACT THEME: Housing & Homelessness, Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, Poverty and Disadvantage

WHAT THEY DO: Stop Domestic Abuse supports and protects victims and survivors of domestic abuse and stalking.

YEAR FOUNDED: Stop Domestic Abuse originally began in 1978, opening its first refuge under the name 'Southern Domestic Abuse Service'. In 2018, the organisation rebranded into Stop Domestic Abuse.

LOCATION: Portsmouth

PARTNERSHIP DATE: June 2022

FUND PARTNERSHIP: Women in Safe Homes Fund

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

ABOUT: Stop Domestic Abuse supports women and children experiencing domestic abuse through their 19 refuges which provide a safe place to live when they cannot stay in their own homes. The organisation offers support groups and one-to-one support to address complex issues arising from domestic abuse.

• 1.4m women (one in four) experienced domestic abuse in 2023
• 70% of domestic abuse survivors have a housing need
• Only 50% of women survivors of domestic abuse who wanted to access community-based support services were able to
• 1 in 5 children in the UK affected by and are 'hidden victims' of domestic abuse
• 105,000 children live in homes where there is high-risk domestic abuse

PURPOSE OF PARTNERSHIP: The partnership between Stop Domestic Abuse and the Women in Safe Homes Fund has allowed the fund to get closer to its target of providing safe homes for women who have experienced domestic abuse. The fund has a diverse group of partners, of different sizes, in different geographic regions, of which Stop Domestic Abuse is one of multiple partners providing homes in the South of England. 

So far, the Women in Safe Homes Fund has already bought 78 homes (63% of its property target), to house 183 women and 80 children. As of March 2024, 54 homes had been handed to partners, providing 183 women and 80 children with a safe new home. 

Read our latest social impact report