Temporary Safe Housing

Our safe house services is for women and children who are homeless as a result of domestic violence. We can house 29 women and up to 50 children at any one time in our safe houses and refuges. Details of our  refuge accommodation and safe houses for trafficked women, support in the emergency safe house service, how to refer, and our waiting list are as follows:

Refuges accommodation

Dispersed properties

We have a number of refuges and safe houses scattered across Leeds where women and children can live when it is no longer safe for them to stay in their own homes. We have 10 self-contained 1,  2, 3 and 4 bedroom safe houses that are fully equipped and very secure; 1 of these properties is for a disabled woman and a child. They are just ordinary houses in ordinary streets and they are ideal for women who want complete privacy, security, access to staff support 24 hours a day, and for women with older boy children and women with pets. 

We are all too aware of the link between domestic violence and animal abuse, and that is why we have provision where families can bring their pets to safety too. All the houses have fully equipped gardens for children to play.

Refuge with 24 hour support

This refuge has 10 very smart self-contained apartments comprising 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments with a high degree of security all on one site. Each apartment has its own kitchen, washing machine, lounge, bedrooms and bathroom, and are furnished to a high standard. 2 of these apartments are for disabled women and children, carers can also be accommodated. Staff are on site 24 hours and additional security during the night,  these apartments are ideal for women who want extra security or support if they have complex support needs such as mental health or substance use issues. On this site we also have a garden and play facilities for children within the grounds.  For photos of this particular refuge  please click on the following:

Kitchen area 1, Kitchen area 2, Lounge / dinning area, Single bed, Toilet and bathroom 1, Toilet and bathroom 2.  

Traditional refuge with shared accommodation

In this refuge women and children have exclusive use of their own bedrooms and bathrooms, but have to share kitchens and lounges with a small number of families. Staff are on site between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Women here have access to staff support 24 hours a day. There are 3 refuges in total with shared space for 9 families. Again there are nice gardens with play equipment for children to play.

Families normally stay for up to 6 months until they are offered permanent housing by Leeds City Council or a housing association.

Quotes from recent consultation with women living in this type of refuge are as follows:

“It can be amazing to have someone there who understands what you have been through. It helps when you and others have a shared experience. They know when to leave you alone and when to support you”

 “It has given me strength. I want more from life, to get back to work and move on with my life”

“It helps if you’ve just left home and you might feel a bit lonely, to be able to sit down and eat with other families”

Safe houses - service for trafficked women

We run a safe house service for women who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation. Some women have been trafficked internationally, whilst others are British-born women who have been trafficked internally within the UK. Human trafficking is a huge problem across the UK, with women and girls being tricked into coming to the UK from some of the poorest countries in the world. It is a modern form of slavery.

 Women are forced to have sex with men, sometimes up to 10 times a day. They are often forced to sleep in the same room in which they are being raped and are threatened with serious harm, and sometimes with death, if they refuse to cooperate.

 Trafficking is an extreme form of the violence against women and children that we have been fighting against here in Leeds for the past 37 years.

 We offer safe housing and specialist support including help with issues around immigration, sexual health, mental health and substance use, money, housing and the criminal justice system. We also provide easy access to specialist counselling, interpreting, training, health and education services.

 This service has been developed in partnership with other agencies including West Yorkshire Police, Supporting People and other local charities.

 We do not accept self-referrals into this service, so all referrals must be made by an agency such as the police, the UK Human Trafficking Centre and other voluntary sector agencies. Referrals are only taken during office hours for this service and it has its own referral form, available by ringing 0113 246 0401.

Support in the emergency safe house service

Each woman has a support worker who can give structured emotional and practical support during her stay, which will normally last up to six months. We work with other agencies to give extra support e.g. counselling.

Each child can have support from the children's tam who can provide individual emotional support, opportunities to play and educational support i.e. helping children to achieve.

How to refer

Any woman experiencing domestic violence can refer herself to this service by calling us on 0113 246 0401 or any agencies working with women can refer them if they have their permission to do so. Details will be taken over the phone and if accommodation is available then the woman will be accepted immediately. However as we have limited space and there is always a high demand, there are times when this is not possible, When this happens we can alternative emergency accommodation including refuges nationwide.

Waiting list

We also run a waiting list for our emergency safe house service, we support women on the waiting list so that they and their children can be as safe as possible whilst they are waiting for a space, We regularly update women about how long it will be and when a suitable property is likely to become vacant.