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The government is carrying out a 12 week pilot scheme launched today to fund domestic violence services to support victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) to make a fast-track claim for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Domestic Violence Rule/Immigration Concession.
Accommodation and subsistence costs may be provided by The Sojourner Project for up to 8 weeks (in 3 stages) while ILR applications are submitted and processed.
Click here for initial information from Eaves Housing about the Sojourner Project and how domestic violence service providers can apply for the temporary fund.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge) receives more than 1000 calls a year from women with NRPF and so we welcome this pilot and the opportunities it will provide to assist victims to access the safety and support that they need.
In order to support the pilot, and to ensure that no women fall through the cracks as a result of its restrictions, Women’s Aid also have a small amount of money to supplement or follow on from the pilot. We are liaising with Eaves Housing and the government and will be announcing how this can be accessed within the next few days, once we have established how this can best be utilised.
In the meantime, we are asking you to take referrals and encourage you to use the Sojourner Project to enable you to support victims with NRPF.
We also ask you to participate fully in the associated monitoring (which is being co-ordinated by Women’s Aid England, Scotland and Wales) so that we can properly assess the impact of the pilot and report fully to government on its strengths and weaknesses. Download the monitoring form here.
