Shelter wins landmark ruling for domestic violence victims

The House of Lords has ruled that women staying in temporary refuges after fleeing domestic violence will be considered homeless and have the right to be found a permanent home. Shelter fought the case of a mother of two children who stayed in a refuge after fleeing a domestic violence situation whose application to be homeless was refused, because she was seen to be ‘adequately housed’. The ruling overturns the present situation where only women who register with a local authority are deemed homeless.