- There are two domestic abuse providers of supported safe accommodation in Essex. New contracts were issued in April 2025 for a 5 year period, with an option to extend for a further 2 years.
- Support to adult and child victims of domestic abuse in the providers safe accommodation. This includes family refuges, dispersed accommodation where needs cannot be met in refuge, move on accommodation, a recovery refuge for women with active drug and/or alcohol addiction and men only supported safe accommodation.
Market Context
The domestic abuse (DA) agenda has been a priority for the Council for many years. In 2024 Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Thurrock Council and the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner formed a collaboration to jointly commission DA services for victims and perpetrators across Greater Essex.
From the 1st April 2025 new services were commissioned on a 5-year contract. The services comprise of a central point of contact for anyone impacted by DA (Compass), support in the community for perpetrators, community outreach and support within safe accommodation for child and adult victims and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs for adult victims assessed as high-risk).
Market Status
Demand for support across all DA services has seen a year-on-year increase. Providers have responded positively to this. Outside of the main Greater Essex DA service contracts, the Council has funded and/or is working in partnership to address wider areas of DA need which includes:
- Specialist support for adult and child victims of DA who have also experienced sexual abuse and violence
- Strategic Innovation Partnership to co-design an early intervention approach for whole families who experience DA
- Perpetrator housing pilot, which enables victims to safely remain in their own home
- Self-help resources within community settings
Market Rating
The Domestic Abuse providers in Essex are highly skilled and competent offering a range of support to victims. Working well with partners utilising local community organisations and charities to 'reach’ under-served groups and communities. Providers are further developing and strengthening their connections to be able to respond to minoritized cohorts. The Council will continue to track this as plans to develop a more diverse market are developed.
| Market Quality | Market Supply | Market Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Good/Very Good | Moderate | Good |
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| Market Workface | Market Ambition | Market Maturity |
| Low/Moderate | Increase Supply | Mature |
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Domestic Abuse Support in Essex
Detailed below is key data on the Essex Domestic Abuse Service which includes a central point of contact (Compass), community outreach and support, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors for high-risk victims and support in safe accommodation between April 2024 and March 2025.
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Total Number of Providers: |
<5 |
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Total Number of supported safe accommodation places (refuge and dispersed): |
92 |
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Number of supported safe accommodation places for adults with children: |
79 |
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Average length of stay: |
4 to 5 months |
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Number of adults supported: (various each year dependent on length of stay) |
TBC |
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Number of children supported: (various each year dependent on length of stay) |
TBC |
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Expected future capacity: |
95-105 refuge places 1,200 Sanctuary (tbc) |
Across Essex there are 92 supported safe accommodation spaces (refuge, specialist refuge, dispersed, move on), with an additional 30 across Greater Essex. Safe accommodation also includes the victims own home, where the perpetrator is not living and it is safe for them to stay with additional security measures. Victims can be supported to safely stay in their own home through Sanctuary Schemes or similar. In 2023 the Council introduced a Flexible Fund (Essex Safe Start Fund) which aims to support victims who need to seek or sustain safe accommodation. This fund has enabled over 1,000 victims (adults and children) to safely stay in their own home. The fund is continuing and has been embedded into COMPASS (DA central point of contact).
- The providers will be increasing their safe accommodation offer throughout the lifetime of the contract and will be continuing to embed the Essex Safe Start Fund to enable victims to seek or sustain safe accommodation, which includes their own home where it is safe to do so.
- Availability of additional appropriate safe accommodation over the contract period; DA providers have to secure their own safe accommodation, which needs to meet the standards in the DA National Guidance, which could limit the availability of appropriate properties.
- Support for victims to safely stay in their local area. Limited housing market in Essex means that not all housing providers offer reciprocal arrangements.
- Meeting the needs of victims from under-served groups.
- Increased pressure to domestic abuse providers retaining their workforce.
- Increased demand on services as a result of cost of living.
- Year on year increase in number of people seeking support
- Continue to embed safe accommodation support services
- Work with partners to reach under-served groups to strengthen the offer of support.
- Continue to embed the Essex Safe Start Fund (flexible funding). People with No Recourse to Public Funds are one of the priority groups to reach.