AN URGENT investment in crisis accommodation for victims of family violence is essential to keep women and children in Melbourne’s west from becoming homeless, according to service providers.
Women’s Health West family violence manager Jacky Tucker said it had been decades since any serious investment was made in boosting crisis accommodation for women and children fleeing violent homes.
“For some women, family violence means they have to leave the home,” Ms Tucker said.
“In those circumstances they are effectively homeless; they have no safe home they can go to.”
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows family violence remains the leading cause of homelessness in Victoria and the lack of housing options leaves too many women and children at risk.
One in three people seeking assistance from homeless support agencies are escaping family violence and one in five is aged under 10.
Ms Tucker said the critical shortage of emergency accommodation in the western suburbs forced many women to move to locations such as Shepparton or Bairnsdale.
She called for local options that did not require sending women and children “all over the state” to be safe.
Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King said children and young people who experienced homelessness at an early age were more likely to cycle in and out of homelessness throughout their lives.
“Unless we support people experiencing family violence by providing access to safe and secure housing, we risk condemning people to lifelong disadvantage,” she said.
“The recent ACOSS [Australian Council of Social Service] community sector survey highlighted growing stress on homelessness services and agencies working with people experiencing family violence, with each recording significant levels of unmet need.”
Ms King called for more safe housing and better support for frontline organisations.
A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said Victoria currently funded 24 secure refuges across the state, including refuges located in the western suburbs.
“Since 2009, funding has also been available for private rental brokerage, which is used to support women and families who have experienced family violence into secure housing options.”
She said $19.1 million would be spent over the next four years on accommodation options for families, diverting families with children, including those experiencing family violence, from sub-standard housing.
“Every possible effort is made to address the needs of women and families seeking assistance. The physical location of facilities has less bearing to crisis service provision levels than it once did.”
