Introduction

Two aspects of housing management are reviewed in this chapter to better understand their impact on women leaving domestic violence: first, the variable implementation of the homeless legislation and, second, the operation of waiting lists. Research published in England, Scotland and Wales since the 1950s is examined with the aim of understanding the wider historical background against which current developments are occurring and to identify those themes that have proved remarkably resilient over time. Most research has concentrated on how the homelessness legislation has been implemented. Research on council and housing association waiting lists also has been included here since they became more important as a route to rehousing following the 1996 Housing Act. The current government's enthusiasm for introducing more ‘choice’ into the housing register and waiting-list systems currently in use will also affect homeless people in ways which have not yet been seen (DETR and DSS, 2000).

The review begins with a discussion of the impact of familism on council house assessment and allocation. Familism describes processes and practices which have explicitly or implicitly attributed merit and priority to the white nuclear family form. Housing management staff have used to varying degrees particular attitudes towards the nuclear family as a baseline or ‘ideal type’ against which to use their discretion in assessing applications and allocating property through the homeless legislation and waiting-list practices. These have adversely influenced the nature of the housing service offered to women trying to find a new home away from violent partners/ex-partners because they have not conformed to the ‘ideal type’ nuclear family.

What follows is a more detailed look at the way women who are homeless because of domestic violence have been helped by housing staff. The first section deals with the period during which the 1948 National Assistance Act was in force. This is important, since some have argued that the 1996 Housing Act marked a return to this minimal approach. The second section considers research completed relatively soon after the enactment of the 1977 Housing (Homeless Persons) Act. And the third section evaluates research completed following the consolidation of the 1977 Act into the 1985 Housing Act.

The review then focuses on housing associations’ responses to homelessness. Most research has examined the work of local authorities because they continue to have the statutory responsibility for the homeless.