What options are available for a 19-year-old feeling unsafe at home

[Dunnocantthinkofone]

First off - this is not my own personal situation. It’s a young girl I work with who I don’t really know hugely well but has chosen to confide in me

What options are open to someone (19yrs) who is only just starting out and has a very low part time income so cannot support herself but is feeling unsafe at home due to her dad’s behaviour. No other family who she feels would be sympathetic and her mum will not leave/chuck the bastard out.

Move into a shared house and have the rent topped up by universal credit.

Is she studying? Safeguarding at the place of education.

if she made herself homeless and presented at the council she would be offered a hostel type accommodation so it’s not nice.

She’s not. Finished her studies last year unfortunately

In my organisation we would still
signpost former students to organisations that could help.
Could be worth reaching out.

in reality though the support would be variable. Are there additional support needs that make her vulnerable? Social services for vulnerable adults?

CAB. potentially?

She needs to contact her councils homeless department.

https://centrepoint.org.uk/do-you-need-help/i-know-someone-who-needs-help

Not always.

Our council will not accept a duty unless someone is medically significantly more vulnerable than others sleeping on the streets.

Disgraceful IMO to have a civilised society that is happy to have people on the streets.

If she is suffering DV then the council do have a duty towards her, but she will have to specifically say this.

They might offer other help eg with a deposit and bond for private rented.

A DV charity might be a better place to start if she's feeling unsafe.

Is there a reason she can’t just move into a house share like others her age do?

Maybe they can call women’s aid as she sounds like a victim of domestic abuse if she feels unsafe. Poor girl.

https://womensaid.org.uk/information-support/

it could help her mother too.

No ‘proper’ job. She volunteers with us for experience in her longer term chosen career. Does a couple of bits outside of that building up a business of her own but only takes home a variable couple of hundred pounds max a week atm. No transport of her own either which said business is reliant on.

I guess she will have to put those plans aside and look for a salaried job. I don’t know lots of detail though - as I say she’s an acquaintance really. Albeit a lovely one who I’d like to steer towards some kind of help

Yep. Violence is a factor on occasion apparently. With lots of rows and swearing and the fear of escalation sounding a very common theme

I think she’s scared to tackle it officially and potentially lose her mum and siblings too. Poor kid

Everything you have described is dv. She doesn’t have to have a black eye to be a victim. If she feels unsafe and unable to leave the house. Let her know she can call the police. They will take it very seriously.

I know it is. I’m not sure she’s ready or even able to stand up for herself by reporting it from our conversation- views it as going nuclear and losing her entire family (mum will not support her and denies everything when police have been called by neighbours previously)

Very sad to read :(

She could call kooth. They’re a counselling helpline for young people. It might help her process things until she feels she can take action or remove herself from the situation.

Ymca?