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Birmingham MP Jess Phillips is today celebrating victory in her campaign to protect refuges for victims of domestic violence from closure, after the Government announced a major change in policy.

Refuges and other supported housing schemes, such as those for people leaving care and former members of the armed forces, will be protected from cuts in Housing Benefit, Ministers have announced.

The Birmingham Yardley MP delivered an emotional appeal to former Prime Minister David Cameron in May, urging him to save lives by protecting women’s refuges from closure.

She has also raised the issue in a number of Commons debates, along with other MPs.

Watch: Jess Phillips delivers emotional plea to David Cameron

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Refuges were threatened by changes to housing benefit designed to prevent landlords ripping off taxpayers by charging extortionate rents.

A system called the Local Housing Allowance already limits how much housing benefit people renting privately can receive, and Government is extending this to people in social housing such as those renting from a housing association.

But it meant that supported accommodation, which provides specialist help to people, was set to be included in the cap for the first time.

Supported accommodation is relatively expensive because it involves more than simply providing a home to live in. For example, there may be the cost of employing security staff and CCTV.

And as it is funded largely from housing benefit, campaigners warned that many schemes would no longer have enough money to operate.

They included refuges for women and children affected by domestic violence. More than 6,000 women used a refuge nationwide last year.

Other people in supported accommodation include former armed forces personnel who struggled to adapt to civilian life.

Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green has now told Parliament that a a new funding formula will be introduced specifically for supported accommodation.

It will be exempt from the Local Housing Allowance cap until 2019 and then the new funding model will provide additional ring-fenced funding.

Mr Green said: “We know the valuable role that these organisations play in communities across Britain. Women’s refuges or housing for young people with learning disabilities are important parts of the support system for vulnerable people.

“As we build a Britain that works for everyone, not just the privileged few, our new funding model will help those people who need it the most.”

Ms Phillips, who previously worked for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, responsible for refuges in Sandwell, said: “I am delighted that the Government has listened.

“We have been able to stick up for the most vulnerable people in our society and the right thing has happened.”

Speaking to David Cameron in the House of Commons earlier this year, she said: “Already in 2015 at least 46 women have been murdered in the UK. This number would be much higher if it were not for specialist refuges.

“I am standing to beg the Prime Minster to exempt refuge accommodation from the changes to housing benefit beyond 2017.

“This will certainly close services.

“Will he exempt refuges? Will he choose to save lives? Please.”

The change of policy was welcomed by Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid. She said: “On behalf of our national membership network of domestic abuse services, we thank the government for this morning confirming that refuges will be exempt from changes to the housing benefit cap until 2019, and from the 1% rent reduction, which will ensure that refuges remain financially sustainable.

“We warmly welcome the news that the government will be working with Women’s Aid to develop a permanent sustainable solution to refuge funding that ensures that refuges do not see a reduction in current levels of funding.

“Refuges rely on housing benefit to cover, on average, 89% of their weekly housing costs –the money needed to fund buildings, maintenance and essential services.

“If the cap went ahead as planned, Women’s Aid warned that two thirds of refuges would be forced to close, and 87% would have not been able to provide the same level of service provision to protect women and children survivors of domestic abuse.”