Portsmouth City Council is setting aside £50,000 of income from property investments, to help fund local domestic abuse services after April 2017.
In January, the council decided how it would find £11 million in savings in the next financial year.
Savings in local domestic abuse service were agreed – but the council decided to keep funding at the present level for another year until April 2017.
The council is reviewing how services should be provided in future and has been buying property – including warehouses and a supermarket – with plans to use the rental income to help protect services affected by budget savings.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Donna Jones, said:
"We've been investing in property, with the intention of using the money to offset savings right across the council.
“This plan's working – and we've been able to set aside £50,000 per year for domestic abuse services in the future.
“Of course, more money will be needed – and we're investigating other sources for this, including by talking to partner agencies who might be able to provide funding.
“We have to make savings – but we know how important these services are and we're working hard to keep them running.”
In December, two Portsmouth domestic abuse refuges received funding of more than £93,000, after the council led a successful bid for government funding.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety, Cllr Robert New, added:
“We have no choice but to make savings – but we're thinking creatively about new ways domestic abuse services could be funded in future, so they continue and are even enhanced.
“We're also looking at new ways the services could be organised and run.”
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