Independent Domestic Abuse Services

Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting anyone who has been subject to domestic (DA) or sexual abuse (SA). IDAS started as York Women’s Aid in 1977, one of the first refuge providers in the UK, providing safe accommodation to women in a 2-bedroom flat donated by a local resident. In 2004, they started to work outside of the York area to deliver community-based services in parts of North Yorkshire, and began supporting male victims of abuse – given this new remit, it changed its name to IDAS.

About our investment

Investment 1

SASH II
April 2024

SASH II funding will enable IDAS to acquire at least 16 properties in Barnsley and Sheffield, to provide safe and suitable supported accommodation to people and families experiences domestic abuse.

What

IDAS provides people who have experienced crime or domestic abuse with safe, supported accommodation, to enable them to recover from the negative experience and transition to independent housing. In addition, the organisation also provides independent domestic and sexual violence advisory services, specialist support for children and young people, a 24-hour freephone helpline, group courses and domestic violence training.

Who

SASH-funded properties will be used as dispersed refuge accommodation for people and families impacted by domestic abuse. The variety of SASH-funded property sizes allows IDAS to accommodate those who are single through to those with families across Barnsley and Sheffield. Beneficiaries enter IDAS via various referral routes (including the Police, Local Authority and self-referral).

How Much

16 units for families and/or individuals across 16 properties in Barnsley and Sheffield. Ownership will give IDAS more control over their properties and the areas they choose to house people. Everyone in their accommodation, including children and young people, are offered tailored support to meet their needs. IDAS also employs a specialist mental health support worker to provide group and 1-1 support. Beneficiaries can stay anywhere from a few years to 2 years (average stay length is 7-8 months).

Contribution

The SASH-funded properties will help address the shortage of suitable accommodation in LAs in which IDAS operates and allow the organisation to expand its owned property portfolio and be less reliant on PRS. Given its size, IDAS would likely encounter challenges in using the traditional mortgage market to purchase properties at the scale outlined as part of this proposal. Supporting an organisation such as IDAS also carries additional benefits for tenants given the extent to which the organisation is embedded within the overall DA provision.

Risk

IDAS has good knowledge of the needs of its clients, with prior experience of managing properties and tenancies.

*We define risk as: risk that the impact defined above will not be achieved by the investment

Visit the Independent Domestic Abuse Services website

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