Beyond the front door: Domestic abuse, gambling harm and the hidden risks driving tenancy breakdown

25 Jun 2026
The Fringe Festival Stage
The Fringe Festival Stage - open to all

Domestic abuse is one of the most significant but least visible drivers of housing instability. This important fringe session brings together frontline supported housing practice, new academic research, survivor‑informed system expertise and place‑based partnership working to explore how domestic abuse intersects with gambling harm, addiction and financial control.

Housing teams often deal with the symptoms - rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, safeguarding concerns and evictions - without seeing the underlying causes. Our  speakers will discuss how and where these hidden harms show up, and what providers can realistically do to identify risk earlier, respond more safely and prevent tenancy breakdown.

Chair
Nicki Clarke
Nicki Clarke, Head of service - housing & criminal justice, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse
Speakers
Dr Mercy Denedo
Dr Mercy Denedo, Associate professor, Durham University Business School
Dr Kelly Henderson
Dr Kelly Henderson, Founder and co-managing director, Addressing Domestic Abuse (ADA)
Sam Smethers
Sam Smethers, Chief executive, Surviving Economic Abuse
Lucy Willis
Lucy Willis, Head of domestic violence and abuse services, Honeycomb group