Whole Housing

The Whole Housing Approach is a first of its kind model addressing all housing tenure types and the full range of housing needs those experiencing domestic abuse will have.

The Whole Housing Approach (WHA) was first conceptualised in 2018 by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) in collaboration with the National Housing and Domestic Abuse Policy and Practice Group. It is the first of its kind to consider all housing tenure types, and the plethora of options and initiatives needed to enable survivors to achieve stable housing.

 Whole Housing Approach Aims:

  • Enable earlier identification and intervention of domestic abuse

  • Reduce the number of people rendered homeless because of domestic abuse

  • Enable survivors to remain safely in their homes where it is their choice to do so, or to keep their tenancy status if they relocate

All tenure types addressed within WHA are shown in the diagram below in the green circles. The blue circles represent the options and initiatives designed to enable survivors to access safe and secure accommodation.

Whole-Housing-Approach-diagram cropped.png
 

The Whole Housing Project

In 2019, the Whole Housing Approach project team produced a Whole Housing Approach Toolkit  offering practical guidance and resources to support local implementation of each component. Each section of the toolkit addresses each component shown in the diagram.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) currently funds WHA in three project sites across England (London, Cambridgeshire and Stockton-on-Tees). Standing Together leads on programme management, working in partnership with:

  • Stockton-on-Tees Council

  • Cambridgeshire County Council

  • Westminster City Council (in Partnership with Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham)

  • Surviving Economic Abuse

  • Safer London

  • Advance Advocacy Project (London)

  • Cambridgeshire Women’s Aid

  • Refuge (Cambridgeshire)

To find out more, please contact daha_team@standingtogether.org.uk