How we can help if you are being threatened or abused by a relative or partner.

Are you being threatened or abused by a relative or partner?

Do you feel that you have no choice but to live with the violence?

Have they told you that there is nothing you can do, nowhere you can go, or that they will find you if you try to leave?

There is no excuse for domestic violence and you can get help to stop it.

This Web page explains how we can help you if you are living in one of our homes.

What is domestic violence?
It is where you are being abused by someone you have a relationship with (or have had a relationship with in the past). This includes:

• your husband, wife, or partner
• your parents or step-parents
• other family members (for example, grandparents, in-laws, brothers, or sisters)
• your children.

You can be abused whether you are a man or a woman. Abuse doesn’t just mean someone hitting you. It can also be:

• verbal abuse
  
• threats
• sexual abuse
• stopping you having contact with your friends or family
• taking away your money
• damaging your home or belongings.

Domestic violence is a serious crime.
You don’t have to live with it.

What can I do?
There are no easy solutions. This Web page is a quick guide to what you can do to protect yourself and your family. You can talk to your neighbourhood housing officer for more advice on what to do and your legal rights. They will listen to you without judging you or thinking badly of you, and will not tell anyone what is happening unless you say that they can.

You can also talk to any of the other organisations listed in this leaflet. However, please remember that if anyone thinks that your children are being abused, they must tell the police and social services so that this can be investigated.

Can the law help me?
The law has changed. It is now easier for you to get help and protection from domestic violence. You can get information about this from a solicitor, the police, or Citizens Advice.
Domestic violence is a crime which the police take very seriously. Their first priority is your safety and wellbeing. They will help you if you want to press charges but can also give you lots of information and support.

Can I leave my home?
If you are suffering from domestic violence and do not feel safe in your own home, your neighbourhood housing officer can tell you how to find somewhere else to live.

Moving into temporary accommodation
If you need to move quickly, you can contact us. We do not provide emergency accommodation, but if you are a woman, we may be able to find you a place in one of our refuges. These are places where women and their children can live in safety until they either return to their home or move somewhere else.

You can also contact the following organisations. You can find the phone numbers at the end of this leaflet.

Your local council
They may have a legal duty to arrange temporary accommodation for you if you are suffering from domestic violence. This may be in a refuge or bed and breakfast. They will look at your individual situation before deciding whether to do this. They will also work with us to find you a permanent new home.

Women’s Aid
This is a national network of organisations providing a wide range of advice and support. They can work with the council to help you find a place in a refuge either in Wiltshire or somewhere else if there are no vacancies or you want to move further away.

Mankind
This is an organisation for men who are suffering from domestic violence. They can give you support and find you a place in a refuge for men.

There are other specialist organisations and refuges for people of different religions and cultures. Please contact us for more information about these services.

Housing Benefit and temporary accommodation
You can claim Housing Benefit for both your home and your temporary accommodation for up to one year, as long as you plan to return to your home within 52 weeks. The rules to qualify for this benefit are complicated, so please talk to your neighbourhood housing officer for advice and fill in the forms as soon as you can after leaving. If you decide to move into temporary accommodation and never return to your home, you will only be able to claim Housing Benefit for both properties for up to four weeks. You will need to tell us that you want to end your tenancy agreement. Please ask us for advice first.

Moving to another home
If you want to move to another one of our homes to get away from the violence, we can put you on the transfer waiting list. However, it can take a long time for a property to become available.

Can I speed up the process?
If you are moving to get away from domestic violence, we will give you higher priority on the waiting list. You may need to get supporting letters to show that this is the case (your neighbourhood housing officer will be able to tell you about this). We can move you faster if you don’t mind which area or type of property you move into.

Even if you are given the highest priority, it can still take some time and we may only be able to offer you one choice of property.

Can I move if I am not the tenant or if I have a joint tenancy?
If you are not the tenant, you can join the normal waiting list for your own home.
If you are a joint tenant, you can apply for a transfer. You do not have to tell the other tenant that you are moving. You can also put the tenancy into your own name, if the other tenant agrees or if the court gives you a property transfer order (for example, if you get divorced). Your neighbourhood housing officer will be able to give you general advice about this, but may need to pass you on to a solicitor or Citizens Advice.

What if my home is damaged?
If your home is deliberately damaged, it is usually up to you to pay for repairs. If your abuser damages your home, you should talk to your neighbourhood housing officer, as you may not have to pay for the repairs. We may ask you to report the incident to the police.

What if I owe you rent?
It doesn’t matter. We will try to help anyone who is suffering from domestic violence. Please talk to your neighbourhood housing officer.

How will I manage with money and benefits?
You can claim benefits if you leave a violent partner – some can be paid even if you are working. Your neighbourhood housing officer can offer advice. The important thing is to ask for help early. Many people get into financial problems at times of crisis only because they have not asked for help early enough.

Useful phone numbers

Please get in touch with your neighbourhood housing officer as soon as possible so that we can try to help you. If you live in the:

• Malmesbury, Cricklade, Wootton Bassett, Calne, Purton, or Swindon areas, please call the north team on 01249 466130; or
• Chippenham, Corsham, Melksham, or Trowbridge area, please call the south team on 01249 466140.

Our office hours are 8:45am to 5:15pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:45am to 4:45pm on Fridays. If you have an emergency outside office hours, please call us on 0800 854 205.

Other organisations you can call are listed below.

• Wiltshire Council 0300 456 0100
• Swindon Borough Council 01793 463000
• Wiltshire Constabulary Domestic Violence Units Contact via the central Police telephone number: 0845 408 7000
• SPLITZ Support Service (supports single parents and people suffering domestic abuse) 0845 600 1945
• Wiltshire Social Services 0845 603 1570
• Emergency duty team 0845 607 0888
• Swindon Social Services 01793 466900
• Emergency duty team 01793 436699
• Wiltshire Victim Support 01380 729476
• North Wiltshire citizens advice bureau 0845 1203707
• West Wiltshire citizens advice bureau 0845 1203737
• Swindon citizens advice bureau 0845 0505155
• Women’s Aid Helpline (24 hours) 0808 2000 247.
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• Mankind (support for men suffering domestic violence) 0870 794 4124
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• Your doctor, health visitor, or solicitor.