Abuse victims need women-only boarding houses, says charity

When refuges are full, women can end up in unsafe boarding houses. Photo / File

A domestic abuse charity says it is too dangerous for vulnerable women to stay in Auckland boarding houses.

Some boarding houses are turning women away for fear their presence in the house could spark violence.

Shine manager Jill Proudfoot says women end up locking themselves in boarding house bedrooms when refuges are full.

She says fellow occupants often have a history of substance abuse, crime and mental health issues.

"There are shared facilities so they have to move out and about in the house and that's sometimes really scary for them. There's really nowhere safe for them to go."

So Proudfoot is calling for women-only boarding houses.

She says abused women or those recovering from addiction issues need somewhere safe to live.

"Often these women go back to the person who abused them. Quite often women end up living in their cars or on the street because they have not been able to find suitable safe accommodation."