Earlier this year, I put a call out on LinkedIn for help connecting with professionals working in housing and domestic abuse. Thank you to everyone who responded, shared, tagged, or introduced. Your support helped make this episode happen—and more will follow.

In this episode of the Housing Sector Podcast, I speak with Sherrelle Collman, a frontline practitioner supporting survivors of domestic abuse through her work in specialist Domestic Violence Units at Caridon.

We explore what happens when someone escapes an abusive home but finds themselves navigating a housing system under immense pressure—where temporary accommodation, long waiting lists, and fragmented services can make recovery even harder. This isn’t about blame. It’s about recognising the reality, and working together to improve outcomes for those in crisis.

Topics include:
– The realities survivors face when seeking housing
– The role of Domestic Violence Units—and what more they could achieve
– How trauma can be compounded by complex housing processes
– What meaningful safeguarding could look like
– Advice for professionals and survivors navigating the system

Sherrelle brings clarity, compassion, and deep professional experience to this conversation. Her insight is rooted in practice—not policy. If you work in housing, safeguarding, or simply want to better understand the pressures facing survivors, this is a conversation worth your time.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
– Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme):
https://www.gov.uk/domestic-violence-and-abuse#domestic-violence-disclosure-scheme

– National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7):
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
| 0808 2000 247
– Women’s Aid Live Chat:
https://chat.womensaid.org.uk

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