Violence is the cause of 15% of homelessness cases

Around �18.8 million will be spent on the refuges, it was announced on Wednesday.

Barbara Roche, the minister for social exclusion and housing, said the government had announced it was going to spend �7m on new refuges last year but had decided to increase it.

The Housing Corporation will contribute �9.9m

Speaking at a conference in London she said domestic violence was the cause of 15% of the homelessness cases reported by local councils.

"Women and their children need safe secure accommodation, a place where they can start to plan for the future and to find an alternative to a life of abuse and fear," she said.

"I am pleased that the funding allocations I am announcing today will go towards providing much needed secure accommodation in every region of England."

National helpline

The assistant chief executive of the Housing Corporation, Neil Hadden, said: "We are pleased to be working with the Homelessness Directorate on this most important programme.

"Housing associations have a very good record in assisting some of the most vulnerable people in our society and the Housing Corporation is committed to working with them to deliver these much needed refuges," he said.

A national helpline, backed by Tony Blair and television presenter Davina McCall, is to open later this year.

The announcement comes after the Refuge charity said in February it would open two new shelters in Lewes and Wealden in Suffolk because of growing problems.