Women sleeping rough in West Dorset have a chance to “rebuild their lives”
Female rough sleepers in West Dorset can now be free from 'harm and danger' says a local councillor
A groundbreaking housing scheme offering round-the-clock support to vulnerable women who are sleeping on the streets has officially opened.
‘The Haven’, a six-bedroom property refurbished by Dorset Council, is set to become a sanctuary for women with complex needs, including mental health challenges, substance misuse issues and histories of domestic abuse.
Speaking at the opening, Councillor Gill Taylor said: “I am so proud to officially open the first scheme of its kind in the area.
“This will give much-needed care and support in safe surroundings for women who have faced unimaginable difficulties.
“It’ll give them stability so they can find the strength, confidence and ability to grow and make strides towards making a happy and independent life for themselves.”
The project was developed in response to the gaps in services for female rough sleepers and those requiring 24/7 supported accommodation.
Cllr Taylor told us: “If we can get women into this accommodation and working with staff who encourage them to take control of their lives, to thrive and eventually, become independent.”
The council successfully secured funding through the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) via Homes England, which provided nearly half the funds needed to acquire and renovate the property.
The decision to make the facility women-only was deliberate. “Women who are rough sleeping want single-sex accommodation,” Taylor added. “There’s quite often domestic abuse in the background of their lives so they feel more settled in an all-female establishment.”
Residents will be encouraged to build community through shared activities like cooking and eating together - creating a supportive environment that contrasts starkly with the isolation of life on the streets.
“If we can stop people sleeping on the streets, then that is so much better for them,” said Cllr Taylor.