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Victims of domestic abuse are to be offered emergency use of Airbnb homes in London, under a £100,000 initiative being trialled by City Hall. Up to 60 women and their children will be moved into the properties for up to a fortnight to ease the backlog in getting help to victims. This has been caused by a dire shortage of space in safe refuges that can be used by victims who need to move away from their abusive partners for their own safety. More than 90,000 cases of domestic abuse were recorded by the police in London in the year to August. Across the UK, an estimated 3.8 million adults experienced domestic abuse last year. However, more than half of women seeking help are turned away by refuges because the demand outstrips supply. Using flats and homes listed on Airbnb can be more welcoming, especially for families, than temporary accommodation, and can make it easier for children to attend school. The initiative is being funded with up to £50,000 from London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, matched by a £50,000 commitment from Airbnb. While staying at the Airbnb property, victims will receive one-to-one legal advice and other assistance from the charity Women’s Aid, to help them to recover and move on with their life. Kaya Comer-Schwartz, the deputy mayor for policing and crime, visited a property in Camberwell to learn what kind of accommodation and support will be provided. She said: aid: “Emergency accommodation is a lifeline for families fleeing domestic violence and our partnership with Women’s Aid and Airbnb will help families get the care and support they need at a time of crisis. “This innovative new pilot is part of the Mayor’s wide-ranging strategy to use every possible lever to tackle violence and abuse against women and girls. “This includes providing the best possible support available for victims and survivors and record support for police officers to go after the most prolific offenders. “It also includes long term prevention measures - including education and public awareness campaigns - to tackle deep-rooted misogynistic attitudes.” City Hall says that more than 40,000 survivors of domestic abuse, including vulnerable men, women, and children, have been helped since the mayor launched a safe accommodation programme in 2021. Sir Sadiq said: “I am committed to continuing to work with partners to explore innovations to ensure survivors can access the care and support they need, whilst also working with the Met to go after perpetrators of these heinous crimes.” Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “There is a chronic shortage of refuge spaces for those fleeing abuse and this pilot, which brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors, will be a valuable opportunity for us to see the impact that these collaborations can have. “Systemic underfunding of specialist services has sadly meant that victims and survivors seeking support have been turned away at a point of crisis, with refuges operating a 60 per cent refusal rate. Collaborations such as these will mean survivors now have options, instead of facing imminent homelessness or being forced to return to the abuser. “Eradicating domestic abuse needs a whole society approach, and this coming together of three sectors is a great start to this collaboration.” Velma Cocoran, Airbnb director of policy strategy, said it was the online booking platform’s second emergency accommodation pilot in the UK, after a smaller scheme launched in Manchester last year. She said: “We’re in the homes business and we believe everyone deserves one. This partnership uses the strength of Airbnb’s network to provide vital infrastructure to support survivors at a crucial time.” Staff from Women’s Aid member organisations will use the Airbnb platform to book accommodation on behalf of victims.
