Imelda Staunton and Emily Beecham join Crisis to call for safe homes for domestic abuse survivors

Leading actresses Imelda Staunton and Emily Beecham have joined Crisis, the national homelessness charity, to call on the government to ensure that people fleeing domestic abuse are guaranteed a safe, permanent home.

Their call, which comes as the government prepares to introduce the Domestic Abuse Bill for its second reading, comes in the form of a video in which the two stars appear alongside domestic abuse campaigner David Challen and survivor Danielle, where they all demand an end to the indignity of homelessness for domestic abuse survivors. [View film here]

The video has been produced to highlight that people fleeing domestic abuse currently do not have a legal right to safe, permanent housing from their local council. Faced with the prospect of nowhere else to go, many survivors have no option but to return to their abuser or face the dangers of homelessness.

Crisis estimates that nearly 2,000 people a year are at risk of homelessness because of this flaw in the system, which forces people to prove they are vulnerable before they can be considered a priority for help with finding a long-term home.

The campaigners join Crisis and a cross party group of MPs in calling on the government to urgently amend the Domestic Abuse Bill so that anyone fleeing domestic abuse is automatically guaranteed a safe and settled home.

Actor and Crisis volunteer, Imelda Staunton, said: “I was really shocked to hear that a lack of safe, affordable housing is one of the biggest barriers preventing people from leaving an abusive partner. As a Crisis volunteer, I have seen the devastating effects homelessness has on people’s lives. It’s clear that no one should face life on the streets or surfing sofas – particularly after fleeing the nightmare of domestic abuse. We must stand together to make sure no one is left in these dire circumstances.”

Actor and Crisis volunteer, Emily Beecham, said: “No one should have to choose between homelessness and domestic abuse, but right now, this is happening to far too many people. That’s why I’m supporting Crisis’ campaign to make sure everyone fleeing domestic abuse is helped to find a safe home to rebuild their lives in. We must end the indignity of asking survivors to relive their experiences, sometimes in a room full of strangers, before the can be helped into a safe home. We have a chance to change this now, otherwise thousands more people risk becoming homeless.”

Domestic Abuse Campaigner, David Challen, said: “No one should become homeless after fleeing domestic abuse in any society, but it is happening in ours right now. This has to change. The government must make this right by amending the Domestic Abuse Bill so that anyone fleeing domestic abuse is guaranteed a safe, permanent home”

Head of Policy and Campaigns, Hannah Gousy, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people coming together to call on the government to ensure that survivors fleeing domestic abuse have a legal right to a safe and settled home.

“As human beings we all need a home to build a life and thrive, but currently we’re denying many survivors of this basic right. We must do better than this.

“The Domestic Abuse Bill is the perfect opportunity to stop this injustice and ensure that anyone fleeing domestic abuse is guaranteed a safe home.”