THE passing of a new law allowing housing associations and councils to get domestic abusers out of shared homes must be a priority for Holyrood, a report says.
The paper also calls on social landlords to use a human rights approach to keeping a roof over the heads of women and children experiencing harm at home.
It’s the work of a review group co-chaired by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid in a bid to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse in all its forms.
The problem is the main driver of homelessness for women in Scotland.
The paper, commissioned by the Scottish Government, calls on authorities to change the way housing providers support victims and ensure their needs are prioritised over those of a perpetrator.
Published yesterday, it asks ministers to pass the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill before next year’s election to make sure social landlords can “take immediate steps” to remove abusers from a tenancy and better protect victims.
READ MORE: Bill to give compensation to historic child abuse victims backed by MSPs
The bill is currently at stage one in the Scottish Parliament, with a consultation on the plans having closed on December 4.
Jo Ozga, policy officer at Scottish Women’s Aid and co-chair of the group, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted a ‘shadow pandemic’ of domestic abuse.
“Lockdown measures have enabled perpetrators to enforce control and highlighted that, even in normal circumstances, many women and children do not feel safe or secure at home.
“The report recommends a combination of systemic change, legislation and actions to prevent homelessness for victim-survivors of domestic abuse that will make a fundamental difference to improving not only the housing outcomes for women and children in Scotland but also their health and wellbeing.”
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart commented: “It is shocking that people are at risk of harm from those they live with, yet we know domestic abuse is the most common reason for women making a homelessness application and we must support them.
“Crucially, measures in the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill provide the police and courts with new powers to protect people experiencing domestic abuse and give social landlords greater control over ending or transferring tenancies to keep women and children safe.
“The Scottish Government looks forward to working together with social housing providers to implement the report’s findings and ensuring victims of domestic abuse have a safe and secure place to live, where they can access the support they need.”
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