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Through history, restrictions of women's freedom and independence have been accentuated in gender-unequal opportunities and rights to property and land, to spatial autonomy and possibilities to enjoy a place of one's own. The importance of strengthening women's access to and control over property and land, including housing, has been highlighted in policy and research literature as crucial for safety and empowerment of women and children exposed to domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Yet, in the aftermath of DVA many women and children face homelessness, repeated moves between temporary accommodations and distant dislocations from places of belonging.

In this paper we explore practitioners’ perspectives on, and experiences of responding to, victim-survivor’s rights to and needs for stable housing and financial support in the aftermath of DVA and in the context of post-separation abuse (PSA). Group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with 42 practitioners from eight municipalities in a Swedish county. The interview-groups included practitioners from different social service units, women’s shelters, the police, spatial planning units and public housing companies.

The importance of stable housing after leaving an abuser, and the difficulties in providing it, was emphasized by all professional groups. A dominant discourse centered around the importance, yet lack of collaboration and consensus regarding effective working models and perspectives on DVA. Tensions between contradictory understandings surfaced between groups, across organizations and even between units within the same authorities.These tensions were expressed in disparate discourses and understandings of what victim-survivors who have lost their homes due to DVA and PSA need, are entitled to in terms of housing, financial support and protection, and regarding the possibilities for and meanings of victim-survivor’s influence over their own housing situation and spatial autonomy. In rural areas particular challenges and concerns were addressed that did not apply for larger municipalities in urban areas.