Following support from Furniture Matters, a brand new domestic abuse refuge will soon open its doors. The newly furnished building, situated in Lancaster, will provide victims of domestic abuse with safe, comfortable accommodation.
Recently, the team at Furniture Matters have helped furnish the brand new refuge for SafeNet Domestic Abuse and Support Services. The new 20-bed facility, will offer both traditional refuge support and also cater for those with additional complex needs.
Furniture Matters have been supporting similar initiatives since the onset of the pandemic, recently furnishing over forty properties for Blackpool Coastal Housing. Staff from Furniture Matters have been delivering furniture, white goods and bedding to the newly repurposed properties which have provided emergency accommodation for homeless individuals throughout the pandemic. Following the continued success of this and similar projects, enquiries have come in from other local councils looking to utilise Furniture Matters for their rehousing efforts.
The opening of the new refuge comes as domestic abuse charities across the country continue to see referrals rise. Services are already bracing themselves for a rise in referrals as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.
‘We have enjoyed working with and helping the SafeNet team prepare to open their additional Lancaster refuge. It’s been great to be involved with such an important project from the start. When people are fleeing domestic abuse they have to leave their homes behind. By supporting SafeNet, we have played a part in creating safe homes for those that need it most’.
Steph Buchanan – Manager, Furniture Matters