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<p>The Government does not record the number of or the location of refuges in England.
Decisions on the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic abuse are for
local authorities: we expect local authorities to commission services based on the
needs of their communities, taking account of locally available data sources.</p><p>The
Government does not directly fund women's refuges. However, this Government has invested
£6.5 billion investment to help vulnerable people through housing related support.
A proportion of this money will be used by local authorities to commission refuge
services. In addition we have made over £500 million available since 2010 to local
authorities and the voluntary sector to prevent and tackle homelessness and rough
sleeping. This funding will also help the most vulnerable in society, including victims
of domestic abuse.</p><p>The dynamics of domestic abuse mean that accommodation can
play an important role in the resolution of interpersonal abuse and conflict. This
is why the homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety
nets in the world for families with children and for vulnerable people who become
homeless through no fault of their own.</p><p>There is a range of support for victims
of domestic abuse. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes
and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some
victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes
as necessary.</p><p>We also fund UKRefugesOnline a UK wide database of domestic violence
services which supports the national 24 hour free phone domestic violence helpline.
This service enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate
services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get
the help they need as quickly as possible.</p><p>This Government has ring-fenced nearly
£40 million of funding for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services
until 2015. This funding is used to part-fund 54 multi-agency risk assessment conference
co-ordinators and 144 independent domestic violence advisers. We have piloted and
rolled out Clare's Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition
of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two
successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide
Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies.</p><p>We
are keeping this matter under review, and are keen to support best practice and greater
joint working.</p>
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