The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) has awarded Islington Council the highest accreditation for housing providers in tackling domestic abuse.
The council has become the first London borough to be awarded Platinum Accreditation, in recognition of its work to support survivors of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse devastates lives, and the council is working to put a stop to it amongst tenants, residents and employees.
Over 100 domestic abuse Champions have been embedded across all housing services in the council, empowering 834 staff to support residents with compassion and clarity.
The council has also strengthened links with community organisations, faith groups, and LGTBQ+ residents, recognising that domestic abuse affects people in all relationships and communities.
To achieve accreditation, the council focused on DAHA’s Whole Housing Approach – a framework that brings together all the main housing tenure types alongside the housing options and support initiatives needed to address the housing and safety needs of local survivors.
Councillor John Woolf, Islington’s executive member for homes and neighbourhoods, said: “Tragically, domestic abuse is the second highest reason for homelessness in Islington. This dark reality requires a bold approach, from initial contact to securing stable housing; from ensuring we link across council services to support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable and ensure justice-orientated housing.
“Our goal is to make sure every survivor receives the best level of care; that we listen to lived experiences in shaping our housing services and that we adopt a survivor-informed, trauma-aware approach.
“We are incredibly proud to be awarded the DAHA Platinum Accreditation: a new benchmark in housing excellence. And we will never be complacent in our commitment to eliminate violence against women and girls, and support survivors.”
The awarding body, DAHA is the leading specialist domestic abuse organisation supporting housing providers to improve their response to domestic abuse. DAHA accreditation is the UK benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse.
DAHA evaluated the council’s approach to delivering safe and effective interventions in domestic abuse, with the process helping guide staff to address the needs of survivors and hold abusers accountable.
Image credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A / Shutterstock
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