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12

Jul 2021

Last Updated: 12/07/2021
Community
Community

Harrogate charity seeking hosts for domestic abuse victims

by Thomas Barrett

| 12 Jul, 2021
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The charity IDAS says too often people leaving an abusive relationship are unable to access emergency accommodation to help them plan for their future. It runs a project where hosts receive specialist training and provide accommodation for people who are escaping dangerous situations.

harrogate-skyline-6
Harrogate skyline

Do you have a spare room in Harrogate that could host victims of domestic abuse?

The domestic abuse charity IDAS says too often people leaving an abusive relationship are unable to access emergency accommodation to help them plan for their future.

It runs a project called Safe Havens where hosts receive specialist training and provide accommodation for people who are escaping dangerous situations. They are also supported by a dedicated domestic abuse worker.

Pauline (not her real name), a survivor of domestic abuse, said:

"If I had known what help was out there when I was trying to leave, things would have turned out very differently for me. I was young and very scared of my then husband. My family not only did not recognise the abuse but wanted me to stay with my husband. It was only when he went on to remarry his second wife, who left him for the same reasons, that people began to realise what he was.
"I wish I could have taken my daughter and run, even just for a few days to get my head straight, but I had nowhere safe to go and he’d threaten me with awful things if I tried. I know now that IDAS would have helped, and I could have avoided 8 years of pain. Being offered a safe place, for a short time might have made all the difference to me and I’m sure it will make all the difference to people who are trapped with abusers now."






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Anna Dinsdale, Local Area Manager IDAS, added:

"Escaping an abusive partner or family member is rarely straight forward, it takes tremendous bravery and courage. The IDAS Safe Havens hosted, emergency accomodation project aims to provide people with the option of short-term respite and relief in addition to our refuge accomodation.
"Safe Havens hosts will play a key role in assisting their guests by making them feel safe and welcome in their home, giving them time to consider their next steps."


The charity is running a series of information sessions for members of the public who are interested in becoming hosts. For more information, please email Mel.Milner@idas.org.uk