Welsh Women’s Aid welcomes the announcement from Welsh Government that it will split the so called ‘EIPs super grant’ into two separate grants, with one solely focused on housing, and we are delighted this will be in place for the duration of this Assembly term.
Welsh Women’s Aid formed part of the ‘Housing Matters’ campaign, led by Cymorth Cymru in partnership with nine other organisations which are committed to ending homelessness and ensuring that people can live safely and independently in their own homes. We advocated for a separate ring-fenced Homelessness and Housing Related Support grant to safeguard homelessness and housing related support services for the most vulnerable people in Wales.
This announcement, when implemented, will help safeguard the thousands of survivor of domestic and sexual abuse who need access to refuge-based support and other supported housing in a crisis and to help them recover from abuse. It is vital that this housing grant forms part of a package of sustainable financial support for local violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence specialist services, which is a commitment in the Wales National Strategy.
We remain concerned about the lack of a commitment nationally and locally to retain the ring-fence for the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence grants in local areas, which funds crucial multi-agency coordination and community services in every local area across Wales. Welsh Government notes that this information will be published as part of the detailed draft Budget on 23 October.
We look forward to working with colleagues who formed part of the Housing Matters campaign, the specialist Violence Against Women, Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse sector and Welsh Government to demonstrate the impact ring-fencing this funding will have for the people of Wales.