Theresa May agrees to make women’s domestic violence refuges exempt from housing benefit cap
Prime Minister is committed to tackling domestic abuse and supporting the victims of the crime
THERESA May has ordered at risk women’s refuges to be exempt from the housing benefit cap in another big victory for The Sun.
Housing benefit covers a large majority of many refuges’ rental costs.
A total of 67% of the hostels feared the upcoming handout cap to curb the bloated benefits bill would leave them without enough funds to survive.
Quizzed on the threat by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs today, Mrs May dubbed it “a very important issue”.
The PM told MPs: “On the issue of domestic violence, we should across this House be doing all we can to stop these terrible crimes taking place and provide support to the victims and survivors of this crime.
“That’s why we are working on exempting refuges from the cap.”
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Women’s Aid Chief Executive Polly Neate said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to exempting refuges from changes to the housing benefit cap.
“It is great news, and we do not doubt her commitment to tackling domestic abuse.
“We hope as that, as this crisis abates, the Government will look to finding a long-term sustainable funding solution for refuges so that they do not keep lurching from crisis to crisis.
“We look for forward to working with them on this.”
Today’s victory follows the pledge The Sun won from then-Chancellor George Osborne to give £33million to the vital centres.
Two women die every week in England and Wales at the hands of a current or former partner.