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← Housing help DOMESTIC ABUSE & HOUSING

If home is unsafe because of domestic abuse, help is available.

You may be planning to leave, already have left, or still be deciding what is safest. You do not need to wait until you are sleeping rough before asking for housing or specialist support.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline Find housing help
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1
Tell someone the home is unsafe

If you contact a council, housing adviser or support worker, say clearly that domestic abuse or violence is affecting where you can safely live.

2
Use specialist support to plan safely

Leaving can be a particularly risky time. A specialist service can help you think about timing, documents, children, money, technology and a safe place to go.

3
Do not assume you must leave your pet behind

Some refuges cannot take animals, but specialist fostering schemes can temporarily care for dogs and cats while their owners get somewhere safe.

SPECIALIST SUPPORT

Organisations that understand this situation

These links go directly to specialist or official services. Their availability, coverage and eligibility can change, so use the latest information on their own websites.

Domestic abuse support

Refuge

Confidential support, safety planning and refuge accommodation for people escaping domestic abuse.

Get support Local support directory

Women’s Aid

Information about domestic abuse and a directory of local specialist services across the UK.

Get support Housing rights

Shelter

Housing advice if abuse means you cannot safely stay at home or you need help approaching a council.

Get support
IF YOU HAVE A PET

If leaving without your pet feels impossible

Pets can be used as part of coercion or can simply be the reason someone feels unable to enter accommodation that does not accept animals. These services exist specifically to help keep people and pets connected.

Temporary dog fostering

Dogs Trust — Freedom

Free, confidential temporary fostering for dogs while an owner escapes domestic abuse and gets safely settled.

See how they can help Temporary cat fostering

Cats Protection — Lifeline

Free, confidential specialist fostering for cats whose families are fleeing domestic abuse, with reunification when it is safe.

See how they can help
OTHER SUPPORT

You can use more than one route to help

Housing problems often overlap with family, safety, identity, money and pet issues. These Paw Keys support pages are designed to connect rather than compete.

All housing help →
LGBTQ+ housing & safety

If rejection, hostility or abuse is putting your housing at risk.

→ Young people & housing

If you have been asked to leave, are sofa surfing or have nowhere stable.

→ Forced marriage & family abuse

If family pressure, threats or forced marriage are making you unsafe.

→
IF IT IS ALL GETTING TOO MUCH

You can talk to someone as well.

Samaritans are available day or night if you need a confidential conversation about whatever you are dealing with. You do not have to be at a particular point of crisis to contact them.

Samaritans116 123Free to call
Contact Samaritans

Information checked August 2026. Paw Keys is not an emergency, domestic-abuse, safeguarding or homelessness service. We link to independent specialist organisations and official services; always check their latest information, coverage and eligibility.