Understand
Pregnant abuse survivor speaks out over fears in Northumberland shared temporary housing
Overview
A pregnant domestic abuse survivor who fled her home with her young baby has raised concerns about being placed in shared temporary accommodation by Northumberland County Council. She reported feeling unsafe after being chased down a corridor by an intoxicated male resident, having to share facilities with unvetted adults, and dealing with a lack of private infant amenities. The council stated that the safety of domestic abuse victims is of paramount importance and confirmed it is working to relocate her to permanent accommodation.
Key points
- A pregnant domestic abuse survivor living in Northumberland temporary accommodation reported feeling scared after being chased by an intoxicated male resident.
- The woman stated she had to share bathrooms and cooking areas with unvetted adult males and lacked private washing facilities for her baby.
- She described the building as unstaffed with hallways smelling of heavy drug smoke, arguing that victims should never be placed in shared housing.
- Northumberland County Council stated it is working closely with the resident through its homelessness and housing teams to relocate her to permanent accommodation.