A scheme to help women who are fleeing domestic abuse or struggling with substance abuse will receive funding from North Herts Council, it has been agreed.

The council will use £73,000 from a ringfenced government grant to support the project, matching funding agreed by Hertfordshire County Council.

It will be used to help Druglink, a Hertfordshire-based substance misuse charity, run a six-bedroom supported housing scheme at a confidential location within North Hertfordshire.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Val Bryant, said approving the idea was a "no-brainer", while Cllr Amy Allen said: "I'm thrilled we're able to provide this. I'm sad that we have to, but I'm glad we can do this."

Cllr Dave Winstanley, North Herts Council's executive member for housing, told the authority's cabinet on Tuesday (November 26) that there is "growing demand for homelessness support in North Hertfordshire, particularly among women".

He said: "This initiative will not only help meet a critical local need but also supports North Herts Council's commitment to tackling domestic violence, as demonstrated by our recent white ribbon accreditation."

Cllr Winstanley added that the supported housing will "primarily" be for North Herts residents, but some residents "may be relocated from other districts".

The council's strategic housing manager, Martin Lawrence, said residents of the new supported housing may come from elsewhere because "they're escaping an area of risk", which he said was "quite common" for those fleeing domestic violence.

He reminded councillors that some North Herts residents will also have to leave the district and be housed elsewhere because it is "unsafe" for them to remain in the area.

The agreed funding is initially for a two-year pilot, but Cllr Winstanley said the council "hopes" grant funding will continue in the future, while Cllr Daniel Allen, the council leader, said the authority will "always be looking" for grant opportunities.