Refuge shortfall sees two out of three domestic abuse victims left with no choice but return home
Patrice Brady
Two-thirds of victims of domestic violence in West Cavan have no option but to return to their abusive partners, due to a drastic shortage in emergency refuges.
Services available for domestic abuse victims in Cavan are divided, with women in West Cavan receiving help from the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS), and those in the remainder of the county being referred accommodation through Woman’s Aid Dundalk. In West Cavan, Sligo and Leitrim DVAS have no option but to turn away woman, many of whom then return to their abuser at home due to lack of alternatives.
“Two out of every three women who accessed DVAS services and requested crisis accommodation, had to return home to the abuser because there is no refuge,” a DVAS spokesperson told The Anglo-Celt.
“The nearest refuge is in Mayo, Galway or Donegal.”
Children
The problem has ramifications for the children of domestic violence victims, as they may have to leave their county to avail of protection.
“These counties are among a small group of counties in Ireland that are unable to provide safe housing for a woman and her children who are experiencing domestic violence.
“We have managed to set up two safe-houses to cover the area but it’s not enough for the number of calls were getting. The Council of Europe say there should be one refuge space per head of ten thousand population. We’re operating at 38% below the recommended level - behind countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina in this respect.
“Because women in Cavan aren’t provided with local accommodation they have to travel outside of the county and we’re finding as well that woman are travelling across the border as there are more services available.”
The lack of emergency housing for those affected by domestic abuse means that people who are already vulnerable are having to either stay in a house that isn’t safe or try and find emergency housing in another county.
Cavan has also seen a significant increase in domestic abuse cases since the recession, according to the group Tearmann, who run a confidential service that provides support for domestic abuse victims. “We saw a large jump in clients during 2007, due to the financial crisis, over the last six years the numbers have steadied.