Context
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as abusive behaviour between two people who are aged 16 or over and who are personally connected to each other.
People who are ‘personally connected’ includes intimate partners, ex-partners, family members or individuals who share parental responsibility for a child. Behaviour is abusive if it includes any of the following:
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Violent or threatening behaviour
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
- Economic abuse
- Psychological, emotional or other abuse
The Council believes that no one should live in fear of violence and abuse and is committed to reducing crime and disorder including violence against women and girls.
People who experience domestic abuse are one of the groups of households who may be at particular risk to homelessness if they have to leave their homes and the area where they live for safety or due to the location of the right support in available safe accommodation. The Council aims to provide an accessible, effective and supportive service, which encourages victims and survivors to seek help; and offers a flexible range of housing solutions and support to assist victims and survivors to live safely, securely and free of abuse.
The Council’s Housing Service is responsible for allocating social housing in the borough and for providing housing advice and assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The service is open to provide housing advice and assistance to anyone between 8.45am and 5.15pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:45am to 4:45pm on Friday. An appointment is usually made, but emergency cases are seen without an appointment. The service can be contacted at housingoptions@dartford.gov.uk or on 01322 343114. The out of hours service can be contacted on 0345 634 1212.
The Sanctuary Scheme is one of a range of options available to assist people who are experiencing domestic abuse and are at risk of homelessness. Other options for victims of domestic abuse include management transfer moves (for Council tenants), use of temporary accommodation, refuge accommodation, assistance with finding private rented accommodation, and referrals to specialist support services. All of these options will be fully explored to determine the most suitable solution/s for the individual.
As a social housing landlord, the Council is also a partner to the Sanctuary Access For Eligible Residents (SAFER) Scheme. This scheme is run by Kent County Council (KCC) and is outside the remit of the Council’s own Sanctuary Scheme and this procedure. The SAFER Scheme allows any professional working with a survivor of domestic abuse to refer them to KCC to obtain property security advice and to arrange security measures to be installed in their home. Tenants living in a Council property, do not need to request our consent for the installation of security measures in their home. However, tenants are encouraged to notify us of the works carried out to their home once completed.