Urge Torbay Council to exempt DV survivors from housing bids
The Issue
As a single mother with a school-aged son, living in temporary housing due to a history of domestic violence, I find myself caught in a dire situation. Sharing a single room with my son is not just a physical strain, but an emotional one. It's a constant reminder of the past trauma we strive to leave behind. The person responsible for our pain still lives in the area, and for our safety and well-being, relocating out of Torbay becomes imperative.
Despite this urgent need, Torbay Council has refused to exempt us from the bidding process on Devon Home Choice (DHC) in neighbouring areas. This policy keeps us trapped, unable to move to a safer environment where we can begin to rebuild our lives. We deserve the chance to live without the shadow of fear hanging over us, and to provide my son a sense of stability and security that can help him thrive.
Relocating survivors of domestic violence isn't just about moving addresses; it's about delivering life-saving changes and offering survivors a renewed chance at freedom and peace. According to Women's Aid, over 1.6 million women in the UK experienced domestic abuse last year. These staggering figures highlight the urgent necessity to address our broken support systems.
Torbay Council, we are calling on you to recognise the critical nature of our situation. Revise your policies to allow exemptions from the bidding process for domestic violence survivors who have genuine, urgent needs to relocate far from their abusers. Many councils across the UK have already adopted more flexible approaches, understanding the precarious position survivors are in.
We need your help. By supporting this petition, you're standing up for survivors of domestic violence who deserve the right to live safely and without fear. Please join us in urging Torbay Council to make this essential change. Every signature counts towards creating a safer future for families like mine. Sign and share this petition to make our voices heard and bring about a necessary change in housing policies for domestic violence survivors.
18
The Issue
As a single mother with a school-aged son, living in temporary housing due to a history of domestic violence, I find myself caught in a dire situation. Sharing a single room with my son is not just a physical strain, but an emotional one. It's a constant reminder of the past trauma we strive to leave behind. The person responsible for our pain still lives in the area, and for our safety and well-being, relocating out of Torbay becomes imperative.
Despite this urgent need, Torbay Council has refused to exempt us from the bidding process on Devon Home Choice (DHC) in neighbouring areas. This policy keeps us trapped, unable to move to a safer environment where we can begin to rebuild our lives. We deserve the chance to live without the shadow of fear hanging over us, and to provide my son a sense of stability and security that can help him thrive.
Relocating survivors of domestic violence isn't just about moving addresses; it's about delivering life-saving changes and offering survivors a renewed chance at freedom and peace. According to Women's Aid, over 1.6 million women in the UK experienced domestic abuse last year. These staggering figures highlight the urgent necessity to address our broken support systems.
Torbay Council, we are calling on you to recognise the critical nature of our situation. Revise your policies to allow exemptions from the bidding process for domestic violence survivors who have genuine, urgent needs to relocate far from their abusers. Many councils across the UK have already adopted more flexible approaches, understanding the precarious position survivors are in.
We need your help. By supporting this petition, you're standing up for survivors of domestic violence who deserve the right to live safely and without fear. Please join us in urging Torbay Council to make this essential change. Every signature counts towards creating a safer future for families like mine. Sign and share this petition to make our voices heard and bring about a necessary change in housing policies for domestic violence survivors.
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 30 September 2026