Southampton City Council wins DAHA accreditation for the second time

The award recognises the council’s work supporting victims of abuse in the city

Southampton City Council has been named a Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accredited organisation for the second time, acknowledging the council’s commitment to supporting victims of abuse.

The council first received DAHA accreditation – the UK’s benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse cases – in 2019 and has continued to develop its resources and take steps to enhance the support offered to victims in Southampton.

Evidence suggests that people who experience domestic abuse can turn to as many as five different agencies before they find appropriate help. 

DAHA says:

• Housing providers like Southampton City Council are ideally placed to spot and respond to domestic abuse as a first point of contact
• The number one barrier to women leaving abusive situations is housing
• Domestic abuse is one of the highest causes of homelessness among women

Members of staff from the Housing Service, which manages 16,000 Southampton council homes, have therefore worked to:

• Raise awareness of domestic abuse issues across the department
• Embed policies and procedures which reflect DAHA’s priority areas
• Strengthen multi-agency partnerships, to maximise the support available to residents
• Improve and audit case work to ensure victims of domestic abuse receive the most appropriate support

Additionally, a network of 23 Domestic Abuse Champions – Housing Service colleagues who have volunteered to receive extra training to support them with their new role – provide a visible presence in offices and on estates. They give advice and support to colleagues who are working on domestic abuse cases involving council tenants.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Housing, Southampton City Council, said:

“To receive DAHA accreditation not once, but twice, is testament to the hard work of the Housing Service team and recognition of the important role they play in protecting our residents from the dangers of domestic abuse. I’m proud that in Southampton we are leading the way by tackling the issue head on and providing as many opportunities as possible for victims to get help.”

Speaking on behalf of DAHA, Senior Regional Lead Adela Lategan said:

“By achieving DAHA accreditation for the second time, Southampton City Council has shown its commitment to providing ongoing support for survivors of domestic abuse in Southampton, and we are particularly impressed with how the team is developing its response to support residents from marginalised and minoritised communities. Congratulations on being a beacon of good practice.”