How No Recourse to Public Funds harms migrant survivors of domestic abuse
Today, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner launches “Safety Before Status”, a new report looking into improving pathways to support for migrant victims of domestic abuse. The report shows how survivors are often forced to stay with perpetrators or face destitution as they are barred from accessing public support when they need it the most.
At Praxis, we see the impact of these policies on a daily basis.
Pascale Robinson, Campaign Coordinator at Praxis, says:
Immigration policies – including No Recourse to Public Funds - exclude women who are fleeing from or are survivors of abuse from lifesaving refuges and publicly-funded protection. These policies, which affect women across the country with a range of migration histories, cause tragic consequences. In escaping their abusers, many have nowhere to go to seek help, are alone, in poverty and without access to the expert support they need.
In cases of domestic violence, the people who are most marginalised face even greater barriers in accessing protection and support – this includes women of colour, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex survivors, and people with disabilities.
No one should be locked out of support and forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship or leaving without having anywhere safe to go. All survivors should have access to support – the government must end policies excluding women from safety and protection such No Recourse to Publics Funds immediately.”
“Everyone should have access to support when they face domestic abuse - no matter where we are from or what kind of papers we have.”
Sonia, survivor of domestic violence
During the pandemic we helped Sonia, a survivor of domestic violence who had fled her abusive husband and had nowhere to turn to for help. Alone and pregnant, Sonia faced street homelessness in lockdown. The discriminatory nature of the immigration system meant that the authorities she had approached for help turned her away. There were no options available for her, even though she had a valid leave to remain.
When I left my husband I called the police and told them I couldn’t stay with my family. I didn’t know it at that time, but I was pregnant. They paid a hotel for three days for me - it was horrible, I was alone and I didn’t know what would happen to me next. After three days they said they couldn’t keep on paying the hotel for me or support me any longer. I tried to get help from the Home Office, I showed them my papers but they also told me they couldn’t help me – they gave me the names of a few charities, but none of them – except for Praxis – were able to help.
I was alone, pregnant, on the streets during the pandemic, with no support. If Praxis hadn’t been there, what would have happened to me?
Domestic abuse survivors have nowhere to go – we can’t go back to our husbands and to our countries, it’s unsafe for us and we would fall back into abuse. Everyone should have access to support when they face domestic abuse – no matter where we are from or what kind of papers we have.
To find out more about No Recourse to Public Funds, and how it traps people in destitution and away from protection, read our NRPF’s Action Group’s manifesto “Living with Dignity: A Campaign to End No Recourse to Public Funds Policy”.
Want to take action? E-mail your MP now to help us end NRPF.