DAHA accreditation

Domestic abuse is a significant cause of homelessness for women.

Our research into women’s homelessness shows that domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence are near-universal experiences for women who experience homelessness.

This means women navigate homelessness very differently from men and need services designed specifically for them. Services that recognise trauma, respond with empathy, and support women to build on their resilience and strengths.

It also means ensuring that Single Homeless Project, as an organisation, can deliver safe and effective interventions in domestic abuse – addressing the needs of survivors and holding abusers to account.

What is DAHA?

The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) exists to improve the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse. Through its established set of standards and accreditation process, DAHA offers the only UK benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse. It’s a standard recognised in the Government’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy: 2016–2020.

By becoming DAHA-accredited, housing providers and services can show they are taking a clear stand to ensure they deliver safe and effective responses to domestic abuse.

Leading the way with DAHA in the homelessness sector

We worked closely with DAHA, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, and other homelessness services to shape a new set of adapted DAHA principles specifically for the homelessness sector.

In early 2023, we joined the DAHA pilot programme as the largest homelessness organisation involved. Two years later, Single Homeless Project became the first homelessness and supported accommodation provider in the UK to achieve DAHA accreditation.

Being the first accreditated organisation means:

• Our staff are trained to recognise, respond to, and prevent domestic abuse
• Our policies and practices are survivor-centred, trauma-informed, and responsive
• Our leadership is committed to real, whole-organisation culture change

This is just the beginning

DAHA Accreditation isn’t a finish line – it’s a long-term commitment to keep improving. A promise to survivors that we will listen, learn, and lead with care. Because no one fleeing domestic abuse should fall through the cracks.

At Single Homeless Project, we believe every survivor deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild. And we’re working to make that a reality – not just for the people we support, but across the homelessness sector.