Government must remove financial barriers for those seeking refuge – Mayor Helen Ogbu
Government must remove financial barriers for those seeking refuge – Mayor Helen Ogbu - The Labour Party
- Labour is calling for a €3 million Safe Fund to provide emergency financial support to people fleeing domestic abuse without a means test.
Labour’s Mayor of Galway City, Councillor Helen Ogbu, has called on Government to establish Labour’s proposed €3 million Safe Fund, warning that financial insecurity, the housing crisis and gaps in support can leave survivors trapped in abusive situations.
Mayor Ogbu said she has been engaging with constituents who have experienced domestic abuse and who are deeply worried about how they can rebuild their lives after leaving. For some survivors, the trauma of escaping abuse is compounded by the fear of having no financial resources, no secure home and limited ability to support themselves or their children.
Mayor Ogbu said:
“No one should have to choose between remaining in an abusive situation and facing homelessness, financial hardship or destitution.
“In my engagements with constituents who are survivors of domestic abuse, I have heard how difficult it can be to rebuild a life after leaving an abusive situation. There is already the trauma of what they have experienced. Having to worry about where they will live, how they will support themselves and their children, and whether they can access the help they need creates a second trauma at a time when they should be receiving support and protection.
“Financial insecurity can become a barrier to safety. Someone may know that they need to leave, but not have the money for emergency accommodation, transport, food, clothing or other immediate essentials.
“Government must remove those barriers. Labour’s proposed €3 million Safe Fund would provide direct, non-means-tested emergency assistance through trusted frontline services, allowing survivors to access support when they need it, without unnecessary delay.
“People fleeing domestic abuse should not have to navigate complicated processes or demonstrate that they are poor enough to deserve help before they can be safe. When someone is in danger, support must be accessible, timely and centred on their safety.
“I want to recognise the important work of Domestic Violence Response Galway and COPE Galway, and the many frontline organisations supporting survivors across Galway. They are dealing every day with the consequences of domestic abuse and the additional pressures created by the housing crisis.
“But frontline organisations cannot carry this responsibility alone. Government must provide the resources and practical supports needed to ensure survivors can leave abuse, access safe accommodation and begin rebuilding their lives.
“The housing crisis makes this even more urgent. A survivor should not have to leave an abusive home only to find themselves unable to secure somewhere safe and stable to live. We need a system that recognises the particular circumstances of people fleeing domestic abuse and responds accordingly.
“The Safe Fund is about safety, dignity and choice. It is about giving survivors the practical means to make decisions about their own lives and futures.
“Freedom from violence should never depend on whether someone has money in their bank account.
“No one should have to choose between violence and homelessness. Government must fund the €3 million Safe Fund and ensure that survivors can access immediate support when they need it.”