The newly launched Covid-19 Crisis Project provides safe accommodation with specialist support to women and children fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), across London during the pandemic. It is the equivalent of three refuges, offering up to 70 spaces for women and children, ensuite facilities, food, welcome packs and toys for children, along with specialist support.
The project will provide crisis accommodation for three months and will enable women to flee domestic abuse or other forms of violence against women and girls during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will provide extra capacity to help women safely flee at a time when refuge, and other crisis accommodation, are overstretched and unable to meet the increased demand for spaces. There will be vital resettlement support provided to women to move onto appropriate accommodation at the end of the crisis period.
Fiona Dwyer is CEO of Solace Women's Aid, one of several organisations who have set up the scheme: "We saw a 49 per cent rise in calls to our London Advice Line the week before lockdown and since then have been working with a growing number of women who have managed to leave their abuser, all of whom have been considered at high risk of further harm. Never has the need for safe accommodation been greater and we are relieved to be able to deliver this ground-breaking model of support at a time of crisis for women and children in London. Solace also brings to the project, vital counselling and a package of critical welfare support."
Among those who will be able to take advantage of the scheme are migrant women who have no recourse to public funds.
Women from across London can get in contact directly or through an agency.
The referrals line is open Monday – Friday 10.00 – 4.00pm.
