Housing options if you are fleeing domestic abuse

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If you think you or someone else you know is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for Thames Valley Police.

Call 101 in a non-emergency.

How to get housing support

If you are at risk of domestic abuse and cannot stay in your home, you can contact our Housing Options team for homelessness support.

You can speak to a team member the same day if you contact us during working hours. If you contact us after hours, we’ll get back to you the next working day.

If you would like to meet in person, we can provide a private and confidential interview room. You will have the option to speak with either a man or a woman, and we can arrange for an interpreter if you need one.

Our staff have all received specialist training in domestic abuse. They will work with you in confidence to identify your housing options and rights and give you support.

You can contact us by:

Housing options

If you're at risk of domestic abuse, there are several options that could be available to you.

Referral to a domestic abuse refuge

Refuges offer a safe and supportive place to stay for people escaping domestic abuse. There are some refuges in our borough. However, for your own safety, you would likely be placed in a refuge outside the borough. For more information about refuges in Bracknell Forest, visit the Berkshire Women's Aid website.

You can also get help finding refuge accommodation by contacting the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline by:

For men’s refuge spaces, contact the Men's Advice Line by:

Temporary accommodation

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, we can place you in safe temporary accommodation. Examples of this could be:

  • short-term emergency accommodation, to keep you safe while you consider your options
  • a placement in one of our temporary accommodation properties

We will also offer outreach support and give you practical help with your move.

Home security measures

If you are able to remain living in your existing home, we can ask our Sanctuary service to carry out works to make your home more secure. This could include:

  • installing extra door locks
  • window locks
  • spy holes
  • security lights

In some cases, they could install doorbell cameras so you can remain in your home and feel safe.

If you’re in contact with any of these organizations, you can ask them to refer you to the Sanctuary service:

  • Berkshire Women’s Aid
  • Thames Valley Police
  • Abri Homes
  • Bracknell Forest Council Housing Options team
  • Children’s Social Care
  • Early Help services

You can also request information about the Sanctuary Scheme by contacting DAhousing@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Social housing

You can apply to join the Housing Register for social housing as a new applicant or as a transfer applicant. For more information:

Seeking help from another local authority

If you think you're at risk in your area, you can ask another local authority in England or Wales for help. The local authority you approach may have a duty to make sure that temporary accommodation is made available to you.

You can also apply to join waiting lists for accommodation if you are moving to another area. For more information, contact the local housing authority for the area you want to move to. We can help you with this.

If you need support, we’ll guide you on where to find information on local qualifying criteria.

Other housing options

You might want to consider private rental accommodation or explore affordable home ownership options, such as shared ownership housing.

We can give you more guidance on these options.

Advice and support

We can give you specialist advice and information on all of these housing options.

In addition, we can refer you to other experts who specialise in domestic abuse support. This support can include help for your children, as well as legal, financial, group therapy and counselling services.

You can also get help and advice by calling the Berkshire Women’s Aid helpline on 0808 801 0882. Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK.