Lessons learned from the Restart Programme: Key standards for developing a perpetrator housing pathway

Wednesday, 10 May 2025

ADA were commissioned by the Drive Partnership to evaluate the Restart Programme and to create key standards for developing a perpetrator housing pathway. Restart is an innovative pilot project designed to provide earlier intervention for families at risk of, or experiencing, domestic abuse. By bringing together children’s social care, housing, and domestic abuse services, the programme identifies and responds to harmful behaviours at an earlier stage. Two reports were written build upon insights from the Restart programme to establish key principles and guidance for developing a sustainable and effective housing response for perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Housing intersects with domestic abuse in significant ways, whether through the need for emergency, safe accommodation at crisis points, through housing providers understanding the signs of abuse and being equipped to signpost to early support, to the impact of feeling safe and settled on recovery for victim-survivors, including through the provision of diversionary accommodation for those causing harm.

Dr Kelly Henderson