Rent Choice Start Safely program extended to Southern Highlands, Goulburn, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Campbeltown areas

People escaping domestic and family violence in the Southern Highlands, Goulburn, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Campbelltown areas now have a new program helping them secure a long-term home.

People escaping domestic and family violence in the Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Campbelltown areas now have a new program helping them secure a long-term home, but CEO for Vinnies says more social and affordable housing is required to “meet the need”.

The extension of the ‘Rent Choice Start Safely’ program was announced on Thursday in Bowral in partnership with St Vincent De Paul, where Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones spoke about the initiative.

“Specialist homelessness services are vital as they’re often the first point of call when people are reaching out for support,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

At St Vincent de Paul in Bowral, Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones greets CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Jack de Groot, Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, Wingecarribee Shire Council Interim Administrator Viv May and General Manager of Wingecarribee Shire Council Lisa Miscamble. Picture: Niki Iliagoueva

“This is a great initiative that’s proven to support women and families escaping domestic violence by providing them with the support they need to have private accommodation,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

“Though it’s not just about private accommodation, it’s about providing them with that wraparound support to allow them to have the educational training or employment opportunities so they can transition into financial security.”

The program will be facilitated by Department of Communities and Justice and Vinnies staff and will involve a rental subsidy of up to 36 months in the private market and assistance to help people set up a tenancy through Rentstart Bond Loan and Rent Advance.

The Minister said ‘Start Safely’ has supported 5000 households (over 14,000 individuals) over the last 12 months in NSW, including 250 individuals from the outlined regions.

CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Jack de Groot, Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves, Minister for Local Government and Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman, Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith and Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones. Picture: Niki Iliagoueva

CEO of St Vincent De Paul NSW Jack de Root said that it was important that ‘Start Safely’ was extended due to the “crucial intervention” it offered.

“The extension means it’ll reach more women in our community who are fleeing domestic violence to actually have an earlier intervention that saves them from getting into the system of refuges,” Mr de Groot said.

He gave an example of what the “holistic wraparound support” entailed.

“We had a woman where her child had severe autism, and it was about getting that child access into the NDIS, getting their package together, and supporting her to pay the initial bond and rent,” Mr de Groot said.

“We will also have access to affordable housing that we will then subsidise to a family that’s vulnerable.”

Though he did stress the need for more social and affordable housing in order to aid initiatives like these.

“What we face in Australia today is a housing waitlist that in NSW is over 50,000,” Mr de Groot said.

“And in that waitlist are about 100,000 people, who can wait for 10 years.”

Mr de Groot said more tailored initiatives were needed to support people.

“Throughout Covid we saw extraordinary spikes in housing demand for those affected by domestic and family violence and that has not dissipated as yet,” Mr de Groot said.

“So we need more tailored services around those men and women who are with their children affected by domestic violence.”

Member for Wollondilly Nathanial Smith and Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman were also at the announcement, and expressed their support for the program.

“This cause is especially close to my heart, as my grandmother worked for St Vincent de Paul for many years, and after she passed, Vinnies established ‘Noreen Smith House’ as a place of refuge for women and families suffering domestic violence,” Mr Smith said.

“I’d like to acknowledge all the workers servicing this area – domestic violence is an absolute scourge on society and I’m really proud to be part of the NSW Government that’s helping to support women,” Ms Tuckerman said.