Calls For More Women's Refuges In Our Region
A Hull women's charity says lives are being put at risk because of a shortage of safe houses for victims of domestic violence.
There are concerns women in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire who're fleeing domestic violence are being put at greater risk because of a lack of refuges.
Viking can reveal that in Hull alone - more than 40 women are currently waiting to be placed in a safe house as they attempt to flee a domestic relationship.
But a lack of shelters in our area means many are still living with their violent partner.
Lisa Hilder from the Preston Road Women's charity is now calling for more support to help provide extra safe accomodation for victims. She told Viking FM:
"We've got more than 40 women waiting on our waiting list who are really in need of a house that is safe and where we can provide ongoing support to them. Some of them are still having to live in a violent relationship or others are having to stay with friends or family.
"I think it's a national scandal that there are between 2 and 3 women murdered every week in this country by a violent partner or ex partner and what we are doing at the women's centre is trying to tackle that locally by housing them safely and offering ongoing support to help them rebuild their lives.
"If women and children are unable to break free from violent relationships then they're at risk of further physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their violent perpetrator and in the worst cases that can be murder. It is so important that we increase the number of safe houses available to women and children locally."
Former Hull Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry witnessed domestic abuse growing up. Her mum suffered violence at the hands of her father and she says it's so important victims have readily available help. She told Viking FM:
"We experienced domestic violence and it was not pleasant, it's deeply affected my family and deeply affected me as a person and that's why I'm so passionate about these safe shelters because we used them ourselves and I can't stress it enough, these places save people's lives.
"Domestic violence is going on every single day in houses up and down the country and I guarantee that people will know someone who has been affected because it knows no boundaries and people need to be able to reach out and get help when they need it.
"People that use these facilities are absolutely desperate and they have nowhere else to go, this is literally the last chance saloon for them. Taking away those services will endager people's lives. It's not just for mums or dads that are getting abused but it's for children too as they will be affected by what's going on and it's paramount that those children are given a safe place."
Hull's Purple House women's charity is asking landlords to help house women and children in need.
They've launched their Safe as Houses project in the city today.
For more information, click below:
http://www.purplehouse.co.uk/index.php/help-us/safe-as-houses