Getting the system working for young survivors of domestic abuse

However, our research with young survivors and the domestic abuse and housing sector demonstrates that systemic barriers faced by young survivors mean many continue to be driven into homelessness after experiencing domestic abuse.

Persistent failures across housing, welfare and safeguarding systems to intervene early, provide safe and appropriate accommodation and prevent young survivors from reaching homelessness in the first place resulted in 6,420 young people being driven into homelessness or risk of homelessness, due to domestic abuse in FY 2024-2025.

To strengthen the housing system for young survivors, local authorities must work with the housing and domestic abuse sectors to identify at-risk young people early and ensure support is provided.

Our research found three stages where the housing system can be strengthened for young survivors of domestic abuse. 

Prevention: Preventing initial youth homelessness driven by domestic abuse:

By embedding domestic abuse training, resources and staff with specialist knowledge, alongside upskilling those already engaging with young survivors in community settings, local systems can improve early intervention of domestic abuse and associated housing risks. 

Response: Systemic barriers for young survivors accessing homelessness support

In FY 2025-2026, over 20 per cent, or around one in five gatekeeping cases received by our Helpline, related to domestic abuse. To prevent young people being forced into entrenched homelessness due to domestic abuse, local authorities must actively address current gatekeeping practices, to ensure all young survivors who are forced to leave unsafe environments are provided with safe and supported housing.

Routes Out: Housing young domestic abuse survivors

A lack of available safe and appropriate housing means that young survivors who have been identified as requiring protection can remain exposed to housing insecurity, unsuitable placements or further harm while they wait for the support they are entitled to.

Key recommendations

1. Local authorities should lead a coordinated community response to preventing young survivors being driven into homelessness, through embedding specialist services and resources in existing youth settings such as schools, universities and youth groups.
2. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government should mandate that all local authorities and social housing providers provide a yearly return detailing the figure and percentage of staff that have received professional training on all forms of domestic abuse delivered by an external domestic abuse specialist organisation.
3. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government should require that as part of their annual data returns on domestic abuse safe accommodation, local authorities provide a full breakdown of their provision of youth-specific safe and supported accommodation.
4. The Social Housing Bill should widen its applicability of the joint tenancy changes for domestic abuse survivors to include those that can evidence established residency at the property.