Housing crisis made much worse by domestic violence, experts say

South Australia’s housing crisis is being made immeasurably worse by one horrible reality, experts will tell a landmark Housing Forum on Wednesday.

Family and domestic violence is worsening South Australia’s housing crisis, as victims are forced to flee their homes in search of refuge, authorities say.

Addressing The Advertiser’s landmark Housing Forum on Wednesday, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth will declare domestic violence a “key driver” of housing instability.

Ms Rishworth, the federal member for the southern suburbs seat of Kingston, will commit to ensuring victims have better access to safe accommodation.

She will cite national figures show that show 116,200 Australians, or 42 per cent of those accessing specialist homelessness services, had experienced family and domestic violence.

“Fleeing this violence is the main reason that women and children leave their home,” Ms Rishworth will tell the forum.

“If we are going to tackle homelessness then it is clear that tacking domestic and family violence is a must.

“I’m shocked by the family and domestic violence statistics in Australia.”

Ms Rishworth is finalising a National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children after the previous blueprint expired at the end of June.

Minister for Families and Social Services of Australia Amanda Rishworth. Picture: Floss Adams

Minister for Housing Julie Collins. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor’s election policies included a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which will build 30,000 social and affordable housing properties nationally in five years.

The federal government will also launch a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, along with a new homelessness plan.

“If we can increase options for women and their children to escape from the situations where they are experiencing family and domestic violence we are on the right path as a government,” Ms Rishworth will say.

“These options must include housing – both refuges and longer-term options … along with economic security and support, which is fundamental to a person’s ability to obtain and maintain housing.”

Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins said safe and affordable housing was “ central to the security and dignity of all Australians”.

“Almost a decade of housing policy inaction at a federal level has left us with serious challenges across the country, including in SA,” she said.

Junction chief executive Maria Palumbo says all levers in taxation, planning, investment “to facilitate a new affordable build to rent” plan must be explored. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Maria Palumbo, chief executive officer of social enterprise Junction, will tell the forum that local, state and federal governments must explore all levers in taxation, planning, investment “to facilitate a new affordable build to rent”.

“Affordable build to rent is for key workers and others on moderate incomes who are not able to afford homeownership or high-end housing but are seeking housing stability, security and certainty,” she said.

Mark Hoffman-Davis, the chief executive of SYC, a not-for-profit organisation, urged SA to pilot a new scheme, in which organisations are incentivised to build more homes for rent. “Rent is not a dirty word,” he said. “It’s not a new crisis but it’s affecting a broader cross section of people now.”