gp & healthcare access
Being registered with a GP is an important step to getting help with your physical and mental health. Find out how to find and register with a GP, whether you’re experiencing homelessness or not.
akt support lots of young people who are experiencing domestic abuse from family or an intimate partner. Sometimes this is related to their gender and/or sexuality and means they need to leave.
what is domestic abuse?
The law takes a wider view of domestic abuse than just physical violence. We support young people who are experiencing domestic abuse but don’t know it. So what does the law say?
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 says that domestic abuse occurs where someone (aged 16+) behaves in a way that is abusive towards another person (aged 16+) who they are personally connected to.
What does personally connected mean? The law says you are personally connected if you are:
- Family members (including parents, carers or guardians)
- In an intimate relationship or used to be in an intimate relationship. There is no requirement to have lived together, or still live together.
Domestic abuse is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it. you are not alone and support is available.
your rights in the uk when it comes to domestic abuse:
If you are at risk from the abuser in your area you can approach any council in the country. They can’t send you back to your own area.
The Housing Act 1996 puts legal obligations on councils to help people who may be experiencing domestic abuse. The law says:
- People experiencing domestic abuse are legally homeless, even if they haven’t been asked to leave their home.
- People who leave their home due to domestic abuse are in priority need and the council must provide interim (emergency) accommodation while they conduct inquiries (usually a hostel or B&B for a single young person).
- If you are a British or Irish Citizen (or a citizen of another country with leave to remain in the UK and recourse to public funds) they must help you.
- It is unlawful councils to refuse to accept an application if you have explained you are at risk of domestic abuse. They are legally obligated to provide you with emergency accommodation.
- The council must assess your situation and draw up a personalised housing plan to help you find somewhere to live within 56 days.
what counts as abusive behaviour?
The most obvious form of abuse that people understand is physical abuse – hitting, kicking, punching, slapping – but the law also recognises a larger range of behaviour as abuse; some are subtle, and you might not think they are abuse.
The law says that any of the following actions are abuse.
- Sexual abuse including sexual exploitation
- Violence or threatening violence
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
- So-called ‘honour’-based abuse including forced marriage and conversion therapy
- Economic or financial abuse – this is when they have some or all control over your finances and money, which might make you depend on them financially and feel you can’t support yourself
- Psychological, emotional, or other abuse such as racism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia
We’ve supported many young people who have been subjected to abuse at home and don’t realise.
Our friends at galop, the LGBTQ+ anti-violence charity have developed a really useful resource for lgbtq+ people that can help you identify if the behaviour you’re experiencing is abuse. it may be a good idea to speak to galop before you decide to leave.
You can contact Galop’s National LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 and speak to a trained adviser if you’re not sure.
If you feel you may be at risk of forced marriage or honour-based abuse (HBA) you can reach out to Karma Nirvana for support.
steps to take if you’re experiencing domestic abuse and you need to leave:
If you’re in immediate danger, you should always dial 999.
If you don’t have friends or family members who can support you, you can contact the housing department at your local council to make a homelessness application.
The council must accept your application and provide you with interim accommodation if you may be experiencing domestic abuse. You do not have to provide proof.
If you’re not sure how to get help from you local council, start by finding your local council using this tool and find the right form or person to contact regarding homelessness via your local council’s website. If you get stuck, you can check out Shelter’s How to ask the Council for Help resource page.
domestic abuse services you can contact:
If you don’t want to approach the council directly you can also consider refuge accommodation. Once safe in a refuge the staff can support you to make a homelessness application. You can contact the following domestic abuse services to find out how to be referred to a refuge:
GALOP FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE
i’m 16 or 17 and the housing department say they can’t help me! what do i do?
16- or 17-year-olds who ask the housing department for help must be referred to social services for a ‘child in need assessment’.
Social services have legal duties to assess if your home is safe. If they decide that you aren’t safe to remain at home, they have a duty to accommodate you and decide what level of care is appropriate until you turn 18.
The housing department should never turn a 16 or 17-year-old away. They must accept your homelessness application. If it takes a few days before social services can assess you, the housing department must provide you with accommodation until social services can accommodate you.
In some situations, social services may decide you don’t need support and you must stay in your family home. You may not agree with this and have a right to ask them to look at this again.
You have a right to appoint an independent advocate through organisations like NYAS and Coram Voice, who can ensure that your is voice heard when dealing with social services and challenging decisions you disagree with.
your rights in the uk when it comes to domestic abuse:
If you are at risk from the abuser in your area you can approach any council in the country. They can’t send you back to your own area.
The Housing Act 1996 puts legal obligations on councils to help people who may be experiencing domestic abuse. The law says:
- People experiencing domestic abuse are legally homeless, even if they haven’t been asked to leave their home.
- People who leave their home due to domestic abuse are in priority need and the council must provide interim (emergency) accommodation while they conduct inquiries (usually a hostel or B&B for a single young person).
- If you are a British or Irish Citizen (or a citizen of another country with leave to remain in the UK and recourse to public funds) they must help you.
- It is unlawful councils to refuse to accept an application if you have explained you are at risk of domestic abuse. They are legally obligated to provide you with emergency accommodation.
- The council must assess your situation and draw up a personalised housing plan to help you find somewhere to live within 56 days.
Remember akt are always here to support you if you need any help around these issues!
You can contact us via the live chat bot in the corner of your screen. Our staff are in our offices Monday to Friday 9am-4:30pm.
