A new quarter of a million pound project to help women who have survived domestic abuse will make a ”huge difference,” experts say.
Mary Miller, manager of Dundee Women’s Aid, said the Women’s Information on Security and Housing (WISH) scheme, which has been awarded £272,873 by the Big Lottery Fund, will help survivors who have experienced abusive relationships establish their rights.
She said: ”It’s going to make a huge difference. It’s going to mean women who have experienced domestic abuse looking for housing are going to have all the advice to see what their rights are and realise that they don’t just need to leave the home to the abuser.
”They can stay on and exclude the abuser from the home.”
Ms Miller said all too often women who have been subjected to abuse are no longer aware of what they are entitled to and rather than try to claim the home, get up and leave.
”They don’t know what all their options are,” she said.
The Big Lottery Fund’s Becoming a Survivor programme aims to provide funding to support people affected by domestic abuse and survivors of domestic abuse.
The project aims to get more people who have experienced domestic abuse into a home of their choice and ensure they have greater emotional support.
It also hopes to increase their sense of self-worth and emotional wellbeing.
The grant will support the new scheme over a five-year period and trained advisors will steer women through applications for new housing and access to legal advice.
Jimmy Black, convener of the council’s housing committee, said: ”The project contributes to our ongoing strategy on tackling violence against women in the city.
”Specifically trained workers will be on hand to give women who have been in abusive relationships advice and guidance on their housing options, as well as information on home safety and security and other relevant topics.”
The housing department will provide office accommodation and management support as part of the council’s partnership in WISH with Dundee Women’s Aid, Action for Children Scotland and Barnardo’s Scotland.
In its first year WISH will focus on setting up, while in years two, three and four staff will concentrate on delivering the services and training issues.
In the final year the project will look at ensuring staff in the council’s housing department and the voluntary sector have the expertise, knowledge and resources to continue delivering help and support.
Mr Black said: ”The WISH project will make a significant contribution to achieving Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership’s goals of helping women, children and young people experiencing violence to feel safer, and physically and mentally healthier.”
Ms Miller highlighted the importance of having money set aside for legal advice built into the grant.
”On paper it may look like women can get exclusion orders and home security but women too often fear they won’t be believed,” she said.
The project will be staffed by a part-time development worker and two part-time advice workers with specific expertise in domestic abuse, homelessness and housing.
Workers will be able to access home safety and security provision and will be able to refer clients for free legal advice and have resources to fund civil orders needed to progress housing options.
Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire