Emergency and temporary accommodation

Our charity, Key Unlocking Futures, helps people who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse and violence.

We support people across Chorley and South Ribble to take back control and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

We also operate a 24-hour domestic abuse helpline for people in South Ribble and Chorley.

Please note that in life-threatening or dangerous situations, you must always contact 999.

We offer inclusive, non-judgemental and respectful services to anyone who needs us regardless of background, race, ethnicity, age, gender expression, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or age.

If you are suffering from abuse at home or you know someone who is, please call our domestic abuse helpline to speak to an advisor in confidence on 01772 435865. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get help from Key now

• Phone: 01772 435865
  (available 24 hours a day, seven days a week)
  
  
• Live chat: Key Unlocking Futures
  (10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday)
  
  
• Text: 07790971237
  (10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday) 
  
  
• Email: clarehouse@keycharity.org.uk

Covering your tracks

If you are concerned that your visit to this or other websites might be tracked by your partner, please visit the women's aid website for help.

Exit site quickly

Talk to a work coach at a jobcentre about the domestic violence and abuse to receive additional support from DWP.

You can request to have an appointment with a work coach in a private room.

Find your local jobcentre.

There is special provision for when you’re temporarily absent from your home through fear of domestic violence and abuse.

If you intend to return to your former home, you can receive Housing Benefit for both a former permanent home and temporary accommodation. All accommodation must meet the Housing Benefit conditions.

It will be paid:

• for up to 52 weeks within England, Scotland and Wales
• for up to 26 weeks outside England, Scotland and Wales

If you have been a victim of domestic violence and abuse, you can have a break from job seeking and work preparation requirements for up to 13 weeks to give you the space and time needed to stabilise your life.

You must tell a jobcentre about the domestic violence and abuse in an interview with a work coach, either face-to-face or by telephone. The initial four-week break starts on this date.

If you’ve left an abusive relationship, your work coach can help you to open a new claim as a single claimant. From this moment your ex-partner will not have access to any information about your new claim.

If you’ve left an abusive relationship, you can get a rapid advance of up to 100% of your expected Universal Credit monthly entitlement.

If you have been a victim of domestic violence and abuse when claiming Universal Credit, you will not have to take on any work-related requirements for 13 weeks, providing certain circumstances apply and required evidence is provided.

If you’re the main carer of a child up to 16 years of age, who is in considerable distress due to domestic violence and abuse, you can have a temporary break from work-related requirements. For example, if there is significant disruption to your normal childcare responsibilities and there is a need to provide additional care and support.

There is special provision for the housing element of Universal Credit when you’re temporarily absent from your home through fear of domestic violence and abuse.

If you intend to return to your former home, you can receive the housing element of Universal Credit for both a former permanent home and temporary accommodation.

If you claim Universal Credit as a couple and because of fear of domestic violence and abuse, you wish to manage your money yourself, you can apply for an Alternative Payment Arrangement.

Universal Credit does not pay you an additional amount for a third or subsequent child born on or after 6 April 2017, unless special circumstances apply.

Housing support for exempt accommodation will be excluded from the calculation of the benefit cap for victims for domestic violence and abuse.

DWP provides funding for Discretionary Housing Payments which are available from your local authority and are aimed at a number of groups likely to be affected by welfare reforms.

If you have come to the UK on a family visa as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner and you need to leave home through fear of domestic violence and abuse, you can apply for a Destitution Domestic Violence (DDV) concession.

You do not have to pay the Child Maintenance Service application fee, which is currently £20, if you’re a victim of domestic violence and abuse. Read the Child Maintenance Service guidance to make sure you’re eligible.