Liverpool Council denies housing to woman fleeing domestic abuse

A woman fleeing domestic abuse was left sleeping rough for weeks after Liverpool Council ruled she wasn’t homeless.

In June, Ms X sought housing support from the council after leaving an abusive situation in a neighbouring area, but was denied assistance despite providing medical letters and explaining she had no place to stay.

The council claimed they had “no proof” of her homelessness and refused help. An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found the council had concerns about Ms X’s mental health but failed to act. Ms X had informed the council that she had been paying for hotel stays when possible and was sleeping rough otherwise.

The Ombudsman ruled that Liverpool Council had a duty to provide interim accommodation while investigating her case but failed to do so, leaving Ms X without shelter for nearly four weeks. The Ombudsman found this to be a “significant injustice,” noting Ms X had been forced to flee violence and harassment.

As a result, the council has paid £500 and issued a formal apology. A spokesperson for Liverpool Council acknowledged the service failure and confirmed steps had been taken to prevent similar cases in the future.