I'm worried the local authority won't believe me - Homeless Applications - Practical Help - Domestic Violence Forum - The London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Practical Help

Homeless Applications

I'm worried the local authority won't believe me

When you make your application you are not required to provide "proof" of domestic violence as many women do not have any such evidence. However it will speed up the process if you do have any documentation to confirm that you have experienced domestic violence. If you have previously spoken to any other agencies about your experience of domestic violence you can ask them to write a letter on your behalf to support your application. These other agencies may include the following:

Doctors/Health visitors/midwives/nurses etc
Solicitors/courts (e.g. you have an injunction)
Police (999 call outs or Community Safety Units)
Specialist domestic violence services (e.g. refuges)

If you have not spoken to anyone else you need to make sure that you give the housing officer enough information about your experiences for them to make an informed decision about why you are homeless.

If you have an interview with a housing officer/advisor try to arrange childcare. This could include having a friend wait outside with your children. It is not safe or appropriate to discuss issues of domestic violence in front of children and can also be very distracting for both you and the housing officer/advisor. This in turn could mean that you do not get the advice and/or support which you need.

You may wish to have a friend or advocate come with you when you have an interview. Make sure that you only bring someone you trust and remember that they will be listening to the interview which may involve you talking about your experiences of domestic violence.

Go back to Homeless Application menu |

Go back to Practical Help menu |

Photo of a woman's hands

Contact
London Borough of Barking
and Dagenham Direct

Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Tel: 0208 215 3000
Tel: 0208 227 5755
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk

Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Forum