Housing Advice
Housing advice for victims of domestic abuse
If you need general advice about accommodation, telephone the Buckinghamshire Council’s Homelessness and Advice service on 0300 1316000 during office hours.
You can also email homelessness@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
If you are in an emergency situation, you will be given advice and support on the day by a Duty Homelessness Advisor. You can attend our CAP+ offices during office hours. https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/your-council/visit-the-council/
For emergency out-of-hours housing assistance from the council, telephone 0800 999 7677
For further information you can also contact Shelter who provide free advice
Leaving your home
Do not place yourself at risk. If you are in danger, calling the police emergency number 999 should be your first action.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse and think you need to leave your home to keep yourself and your family safe, you can contact any local authority to make a homeless application.
If you do need to leave your home, it might be that you could stay with friends or relatives while you think about what to do next.
Please contact the Homelessness and Advice team (as above) as soon as you can. We will look at each case individually and consider how best we can assist you.
Try to take essentials like a change of clothes, toiletries and any medication you need to take regularly with you. You should also try to take important items such as your passport, bank and credit cards and your mobile phone.
Do not make a decision to give up your home permanently until you have spoken to a Homelessness adviser and considered all your options.
If you are a tenant of a housing association, you should also speak with them and request support from your tenancy officer or advisor. They may have homes in other areas and be able to assist you to move and avoid the need for you to move into temporary accommodation.
Remaining in your home
If you do not want to leave your home, there are options available to minimise the risk to you.
These include applying for non-molestation and occupation orders.
The Council can also sometimes offer help through our sanctuary scheme
Sanctuary Scheme
As long as the perpetrator no longer lives with you, a Sanctuary Scheme helps you to remain in your own home by installing additional security. Specific security measures are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
For further information on applying for non-molestation orders or occupation orders or to discuss the Sanctuary Scheme, please contact Wycombe Women’s Aid on 01494 449922 or enquiries@wycombewomensaid.org.uk
Women’s Refuges
Women’s refuges offer accommodation for women and their children who are suffering from domestic abuse, this could be emotional or physical abuse from a partner or member of their family.
They are ordinary houses, shared by other women and their children. Women do not have to go to a refuge in their own area, and the address is kept secret to protect women from those they have fled.
Travel to Refuge
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-our-members/travel-to-refuge/
These organisations can help:
Aylesbury Women’s Aid
visit: Aylesbury Women’s Aid
Wycombe Women’s Aid
visit: Wycombe Women’s Aid
Housing advice for professionals
NHAS (National Homelessness Advice Service) nhas.org.uk
NHAS is delivered by Shelter and provides FREE expert advice, training and support to professionals working in local authorities, voluntary advice agencies and public authorities in England.