Kasia Ojukwu: The lack of accessible homes for disabled survivors of domestic abuse | Policy blog

Kasia Ojukwu is the Senior Housing Advocate at Stay Safe East- a charity that provides advocacy and support services to disabled survivors of domestic and sexual violence, hate crime and harassment. Below she writes about how the scarcity of accessible housing is an issue that permeates all facets of society in a way that the vast majority of the public may not consider.


When I first started working at an advice centre in Southeast London, it quickly became clear that amongst the many prominent issues in society, the lack of accessible housing was certainly a frequent concern that had devastating effects on people’s wellbeing. It was routine to observe people who were struggling in housing that was not fit for their needs and in turn it affected every aspect of their life. 

Individuals seeking support spoke of the lack of ability to secure and maintain employment to the lack of ability to maintain relationships resulting in social isolation. The physical inability to navigate through their own home, often resulted in restricted ability to navigate through life, subsequently having a detrimental impact on their wellbeing especially as it pertained to mental health .

However, it wasn’t until starting at Stay Safe East , that the vastness of the issue became clear, as yet another aspect to the lack of accessible housing became, evident: the lack of accessible housing has created a  barrier to safety for disabled people escaping abuse and violence .

Access to safety is not universal

For many survivors of domestic abuse, finding a safe space to heal and rebuild their lives is a difficult journey. However, for disabled survivors, the challenges are amplified by an often-overlooked issue: the lack of accessible accommodation. In the UK, this problem creates an invisible barrier to safety, independence, and recovery, disproportionately impacting disabled individuals escaping abusive environments.

Research by the Office for National Statistics found that disabled women are more than twice as likely to be victims of domestic abuse , yet there is lacking social infrastructure available for them to be able to flee their abuser, as they are far more limited in regards to availability of suitable accommodation solutions. This leads to intrenched institutional inequality, as the help made available to victims without disabilities does not extend to victims with disabilities .

Overuse of hotels

Individuals are forced to evaluate competing fears, the fear of abuse and/or harassment and the fear of being placed for an indefinite amount of time in temporary accommodation that is unsuitable, no longer being able to live independently and having their adaptations stripped away.

Additionally, many disabled victims are being placed for a prolonged amount of time in hotels without simple amenities such as a fridge or cooking facilities. This results in them having to make substantial daily trips to the supermarket to buy essentials, despite many having mobility restrictions, because they cannot store or cook food.

“I have been staying in a hotel for a few months now and I thought I was only going to be here for a few nights. I have arthritis and swelling in my legs, so it is very difficult to get to the shop every day and I don’t have a fridge or anything, so I haven’t been eating well. Sometimes I think about giving up and going home, but it’s not safe to go back. “– SSE client

Whilst the Domestic Violence Act 2021 has provided guidance that hotels should not be used as a long-term accommodation option as it is not a valid form of safe accommodation , the reality is local authorities do not have enough accessible temporary accommodation stock to meet demand. As a result, while disabled victims of violence are disproportionately affected by having to live in hotels, the duration of their stay is often extended due to the scarcity of accommodation that meet their needs.

Lack of accessible refuge space

When disabled survivors attempt to leave an abusive situation, the availability of accessible refuge spaces can be a significant deciding factor. Refuges, shelters, and temporary accommodation are vital resources for anyone fleeing domestic abuse, yet they often lack necessary accessibility adaptations.

Research into barriers to safety by Women’s Aid found that in the 2022-23 period, just 0.4% of all vacancies in London’s refuge services were wheelchair accessible. The lack of accessible spaces means that disabled survivors are more likely to remain trapped in abusive situations due to the scarcity of safe alternatives.

Furthermore, disabled women fortunate enough to find accessible refuge vacancies, find it takes them longer to be offered other forms of ‘move on’ accommodation due to lack of suitable options, further disrupting the flow of women in and out of refuge spaces.

Widescale change needed now

We are thankful for housing associations like Habinteg placing the limelight on the lack of accessible housing available. Fortunately they have been a model of excellence representing how accessible housing projects can be successfully run and implemented.

However, the number of homes needed still far outweigh the good that housing developers like Habinteg can do alone.

For significant change to materialise, the Government must ensure it sticks to the commitment made by the previous administration to implement the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard as the new baseline for new-build homes in England.

Stay Safe East urges the government to take the necessary steps to end the accessible homes crisis now.