For many women escaping domestic abuse, finding a safe and affordable home is the crucial first step toward rebuilding their lives. In Sheffield, domestic abuse charity, Sheffield Women’s Aid (SWA) has long been a pillar of refuge provision, offering specialist support to women and children in crisis. As the only commissioned provider of refuge accommodation in Sheffield, SWA has built a trusted legacy over the past 50 years, dedicated to empowering vulnerable women and their families.

In February 2023, SWA strengthened its commitment to safe housing by partnering with the Women In Safe Homes fund. This partnership is enabling SWA to expand its portfolio to include dispersed accommodation—providing more flexible, independent housing options that cater to the diverse and complex needs of survivors. By increasing the range of safe homes available, SWA is ensuring that more women can access the security, stability, and support they need to move forward with their lives.

Meeting a Critical Need

Traditional refuge settings, while essential, may not always be suitable for every survivor. Some women require greater independence, while others need accommodation that allow them to bring pets or support families with older teenage boys. Many survivors also benefit from having a private sanctuary where they can heal at their own pace.

Recognising these diverse needs, SWA has taken a bold step by expanding its housing options to include dispersed accommodation through the fund. This model offers survivors the opportunity to live in high-quality, safe homes within the community, providing both stability and autonomy while ensuring continued access to SWA’s trauma-informed support services. 

The fund is purchasing 10 dispersed, family-sized properties for SWA to manage alongside their refuge accommodation. So far, 6 dispersed properties have been handed to SWA enabling the charity to support nearly 50 women and at least as many children at any given time, significantly increasing their capacity to provide life-changing support.

Why the Women In Safe Homes Fund?

The Women In Safe Homes fund was created to address the critical shortage of safe housing for women escaping domestic abuse, as well as those facing other housing challenges. For SWA, partnering with the fund means greater autonomy in managing properties, a more efficient referral process, and an enhanced ability to offer survivors a range of housing options tailored to their individual needs.

There were several key reasons why partnering with the Women In Safe Homes fund was an important step forward for the charity:

• Growth Ambitions – SWA sought to expand beyond traditional refuge accommodation to meet the increasing demand for safe housing.
• Independence & Autonomy – Having access to properties outside of commissioned refuge provision allowed SWA greater flexibility in how they support survivors.
• Meeting Demand – The need for safe housing continues to outstrip supply, and dispersed accommodation provides an alternative for those who may not be suited to communal living.
• Efficiency & Direct Referrals – With the Women In Safe Homes fund, SWA can take direct referrals, making the process far more streamlined and helping to reduce delays in getting women into safe housing.
• Leverage for Future Opportunities – Managing a wider range of properties strengthens SWA’s position when applying for future tenders and commissioning opportunities, ensuring long-term sustainability.

The Impact on Survivors

For the women and children supported by SWA, the move to dispersed accommodation has been life-changing. One survivor shared:

“Having my own space is important to me – it’s my sanctuary. I know staff are here if I need them, but after all I have been through, being able to have space and just be is bliss!”

Others have expressed deep appreciation for the quality and warmth of their new homes:

“I love my house—I never thought I would get such a beautiful home.”

“My house is so homely and I really like how it is decorated. There is so much space for me and my children.”

For many women, the ability to bring pets is also crucial:

“I would never have left if I couldn’t bring my dog—he is my world!”

A Future of Safety and Stability

By expanding its provision through dispersed accommodation, SWA is ensuring that more women can access the right housing and support that suits their needs. The partnership with the Women In Safe Homes fund is a testament to the power of social investment in addressing urgent social challenges. With increased flexibility, autonomy, and choice in safe accommodation, SWA is not just providing homes—they are offering hope, dignity, and a fresh start.

About the Women in Safe Homes fund

The Women in Safe Homes fund is a gender-lens impact investment property fund helping address the housing crisis for women escaping domestic abuse, leaving the criminal justice system without a home to go to and at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It was launched in December 2020 as a joint venture of Resonance and Patron Capital because there is a chronic shortage of safe, decent and affordable housing for women at risk of and experiencing homelessness.  

In 2024, 1.6 million women in the UK experienced domestic abuse, one of the leading causes of women’s homelessness (ONS). 

The fund raised £29m from over twenty impact investors and has now closed, focusing on deployment, and has so far purchased 112 properties for its nine housing partners. So far, over 450 women and children have been housed by the fund.

Read about the impact of the Women In Safe Homes fund in its latest social impact report