'Extremely limited' housing options mean domestic abuse victims are 'hidden homeless'

Another woman moved from a guest house, which she left when she ran out of money, to homeless hostels and emergency B&Bs and then onto a refuge before getting back into private rented accommodation, where she has now received notice to quit. File photo: iStock/PA

People leaving an abusive household can experience "hidden homelessness", with many left to cope independently in the absence of adequate financial means to find a solution.

A new report for Focus Ireland also found that children who leave an abusive home can have unmet needs and that there were "numerous" barriers of access to domestic violence services, including capacity issues.