Wolverhampton Council criticised over plan to slash budget of domestic abuse refuge
Wolverhampton City Council has been accused of being 'unrealistic and short-sighted' over plans to slash more than a quarter of a million pounds from the budget of a refuge for the victims of domestic violence.
The cash-strapped authority wants to cut £300,000 from The Haven, a charity set up 40 years ago in Wolverhampton to support the victims of domestic abuse and their families.
But bosses at the charity say the cuts will leave them with no alternative but to turn people away as they struggle to cope with demand for what they say are already overstretched services.
The Haven currently gets £1,030,057 per year, but will see that reduced to £730,000 should the council's plans be approved. A consultation has been launched over the proposals, which form part of the authority's bid to save £123m by 2018.
Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said despite the cuts, providing services to people at risk of domestic violence and abuse would continue to be a key priority for the council.
