Pregnant abuse survivor criticises council over unsafe housing

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 16:49 · Archive

A pregnant domestic abuse survivor has criticised Northumberland County Council after being placed in temporary accommodation shared with male residents where she says she feared for her safety. The family, kept anonymous for their safety, have been placed in shared mixed accommodation with no private washing or cooking areas.

The mother has described being chased down the corridor by an intoxicated male resident and being forced to barricade herself and her sleeping baby in her room. She has raised concerns about cannabis smoke in the building, locked bathroom doors fitted with exterior release slots that can be unlocked from outside, and a lack of separate baby facilities. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she has nowhere safe to bathe her infant and must sit him on the floor of a wet room, and that there is no separate bed for her child.

The building is unstaffed except for weekly visits from council officers, though Northumberland County Council has said out-of-hours support is available. The woman criticised the council's placement, saying victims should never be placed in shared accommodation and that the council has a statutory duty to safeguard the wellbeing of children.

How it is being reported

• Pregnant woman fleeing domestic violence slams council over temporary accommodationA pregnant woman who was forced to flee her home with her young baby has slammed Northumberland County Council over the temporary accommodation she has been housed in.Morpeth Herald · 9 Oct, 15:56
• Pregnant domestic abuse survivor fears for safety in shared housingPregnant domestic abuse survivor criticises Northumberland County Council over unsafe temporary accommodation, shared with men and lacking private baby facilities.Hexham Courant · 8 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Northumberland County Council · Northumberland

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