Exeter City Council has held emergency meetings to see what help it can give victims of domestic violence who could find themselves homeless when Exeter Women's Refuge closes in April.
The centre houses women who have fled abusive relationships, giving them a safe place to live while they attempt to escape violent partners.
It has been in Exeter for more than two decades and has been a temporary shelter for hundreds of women during that time.
But charity Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE), formerly Exeter Women's Aid, was recently told it has lost its core funding from Devon County Council, and the new Wiltshire-based supplier of services will not be providing refuge provision from April.
A Facebook page calling for the facility to be saved has been backed by more than 1,500 people. Supporters say the Exeter Refuge has had a consistently high occupancy rate of 96 per cent.
Councillor Hannaford, Lead Councillor for Housing and Customer Access at Exeter City Council, said: "The decision to move support services for victims of domestic violence to a new supplier was made by Devon County Council following a tendering process. Exeter City council was not involved in this.
"However, in response to this, I called a set of emergency meetings with key stakeholders to find out exactly what was going on and how vulnerable people will be looked after and kept safe in the near future. It was important to work out what impact these changes will have for the individuals concerned who are experiencing these serious and traumatic issues and also the possible additional housing and budget pressures for the city council.
"I have also raised these matters with all those concerned at Devon County Council and Exeter City Council, including the leaders and chief executives of both organisations, the Director of Public Health, and have requested a full and open briefing."
An action group has been set up to address these issues. The group is made up of Cllr Hannaford, Devon County Councillor Jill Owen, who is the former ADVA Chair, and Exeter City Councillor Moira Macdonald, who is part of the SAFE partnership, plus key and senior officers.
Cllr Hannaford added: "We are very keen to get a meeting set up with the new providers and owners of the refuge to discuss the way forward, and we would like to reassure anyone who becomes a victim of domestic abuse and comes to us in need of a safe place to stay, that we will find them immediate, temporary accommodation. We will then work with the individual or family to help them find longer term, safe accommodation."
For more information, please go to www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
