£29 MILLION SAFE HOUSE BOOST FOR ABUSE VICTIMS

Families set to get keys to 30 new homes

- MARK MCGIVERN

WOMEN fleeing violent partners are set to move into safe homes in a new initiative that uses private finance.

The Women in Safe Homes fund is using £29million in private funds from social impact investors to build 120 homes in the UK, with the first of 30 homes in Edinburgh finally handing out keys to families this month.

The WISH fund has had increased interest due to the impoverished state of finance in local and national government.

The Scottish Government was blasted last week for cutting its homebuilding budget by £200million which campaigners say will worsen the homes shortage.

The new raft of homes in Edinburgh will put £8million of property in the hands of the Cyrenians charity, which is kitting out 30 homes and helping transform the lives of women and their children.