Domestic Violence and Abuse
Many people in abusive relationships find it difficult to escape the situation because they have nowhere else to go. If you are in an abusive relationship or environment, you can talk in confidence to a Targeted Housing Advisor who can advise you of your options for rehousing.
To speak to someone please call us on 0208 770 5000 or come into the Civic Offices. You can also email us on contact@encompass-latc.co.uk.
If you email or leave a message for us, ensure that the contact details you leave are safe for us to contact you on. If there are certain times that might be unsafe to get in touch, let us know.
What are my options?
If you want or need to leave the situation immediately, you can make a homeless application. People fleeing from domestic abuse are able to make a homeless application to any council in the UK, even when you have no prior local connection, so if there is an area you would rather go to - because you will be safer or you have family support there, perhaps - you can contact the council there to make a homeless application.
To apply to Sutton as homeless, call on 0208 770 5000 or come into the Civic Offices.
A Targeted Housing Advisor will see you and discuss your options. Depending on your circumstances we might offer you emergency accommodation or help find you a place in a refuge.
If incidents of abuse have been reported to the police it would be helpful for you to bring crime reference numbers, but this isn't essential. We would also need to see proof of your immigration status such as passport, birth certificate, residence card or Home Office documents as well as any children's birth certificates, so please bring these with you if it is safe to do so.
Women's Aid have a useful guide to fleeing domestic abuse here: Making a Safety Plan
You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline 24 hours a day to talk to someone in confidence on 0808 2000 247
Not Alone in Sutton provides further information on domestic abuse and support available locally.