Residential Services for Women Survivors of Abuse and Multiple Disadvantage - Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Where Are We Now?

Introduction

This briefing explains how residential services, such as refuges and safe accommodation, supported women who needed somewhere secure to stay during the COVID‑19 pandemic. It describes why women need accommodation and what services should be like following the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows what changed, what challenges services faced and how they responded. It concludes with a discussion of opportunities that have been created by the pandemic and the challenges that remain.

It’s written for people working in women’s services, funders and commissioners.

Findings

The pandemic increased pressure on residential services. More women needed safe accommodation at the same time as some services had to close or reduce face‑to‑face support.

Many women affected by abuse, homelessness, poverty and trauma were hit especially hard by lockdowns and job losses. Providers responded quickly by adapting buildings, changing support methods and finding new ways to stay in touch with women. Flexible funding helped services keep going.

The briefing also highlights that many women face long‑term disadvantages linked to violence, discrimination and poverty, and that trauma‑informed, gender‑aware support remains essential.

Overall, the pandemic showed both the strain on services and how quickly they can adapt.