Family violence survivors in north need more help

MORE resources are needed to help women and children facing family violence in the north, including many who become homeless.

The call is out for more resources and funds to help family violence victims.

MORE funding and resources are needed to help women and children facing family violence in the north, including many who become homeless.

Berry Street’s chief executive officer of Sandie de Wolf said the organisation was “seeing a surging demand for help from women facing family violence in Hume and across Melbourne’s north”.

Berry Street’s Northern Family and Domestic Violence Service provides support to women and children in Hume, Banyule, Darebin, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra.

“Last year we received more than 10,000 police family violence referrals across Melbourne’s northern suburbs,” Ms de Wolf said.

“The scope of the problem is so extensive that we’d always like more resources and funding to help women and children recover from family violence.”

Ms de Wolf said family violence was a leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Victoria.

“Every day Berry Street is dealing with women and children who are couch surfing or living in cars after fleeing abuse,” she said.

“We need more options for alternative housing for women and children so that they can leave.”

Ms de Wolf said Berry Street was looking forward to hopefully seeing increased funding in the areas of family violence prevention and recovery as a result of the recent Royal Commission into the issue.

Earlier this year, family violence and homelessness workers, including those from Berry Street, came together for a meeting at Women’s Health in the North.

A report released afterwards showed that in September last year there were more than 3500 people awaiting assistance from homelessness services in the north — including 1434 children.

According to the Northern Homelessness Service System, about 300 new households present to homelessness access points in the region each month.

Family violence can lead to homelessness in many cases.

MAJOR ROLE IN HOMELESSNESS

THE Northern Integrated Family Violence Services regional integration co-ordinator Sarah Johnson said there was “a lot of anecdotal evidence” which showed family violence played a major role in homelessness.

She said workers spent much of their time ‘triaging’ women who needed assistance.

“Absolutely women and children who are identified as being in really high risk situations will receive help,” she said.

Ms Johnson said the Royal Commission had been “very good” and the sector was looking forward to its recommendations being carried out.

As part of doing this, the State Government is planning to launch three “homelessness and housing reform launch sites” this year, as part of a $152.5 million plan to improve access to housing.

The three sites will be based in the Department of Health and Human Services’ divisions in Hume Moreland, Brimbank Melton and Inner Gippsland.

The launch sites will be the testing ground for a new way of working with homeless people and community organisations, including a combined public housing and community housing waiting list.

An integrated approach to access for homelessness and social housing services will also form part of the trial, which will be rolled out across the state in later years.

During the next two years the State Government will allocate funding for the launch site areas to implement the redesigned services.

Kristie Looney and Jeanette Large, from WPI, run a real estate firm that puts its profits into funding affordable housing for women and children fleeing family violence.

AGENCY MAKING A DIFFERENCE

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT real estate agency which offers affordable housing for women fleeing family violence is helping to make a difference in the north.

Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) also develops and builds housing for women with physical and mental health issues, who are leaving correctional facilities, indigenous women, refugees and migrants.

Women pay no more than 75 per cent of market rent or 30 per cent of their household income to live in Women’s Property Initiatives homes.

Women’s Property Initiatives chief executive officer Jeanette Large said within Melbourne’s north, the organisation had 33 homes in Roxburgh Park, Bundoora, Brunswick and Epping.

They are also building seven townhouses in Coburg which are due for completion by the end of the year.

As well, Women’s Property Initiatives has received funding from the State Government’s Rapid Housing Assistance program, to buy seven properties in areas — including Moreland — for women fleeing abuse.

“These women face significant disadvantage when it comes to employment opportunities, ability to work and income and therefore they often have the greatest need for safe, affordable long-term housing,” Ms Large said.

“Finding a long-term and stable home has very profound effects on the lives of these women and their families, including better health and educational outcomes and improved readiness for employment.

“People in the community would be shocked to learn how many women and children become homeless because of family violence — and it can happen to anyone.

“It is the number one reason that people seek homelessness crisis services.

“However after accessing crisis accommodation many of these women have no ‘next step’.

WPI provides long-term, affordable housing to these women as a foundation for a better future.”

Ms Large said demand for family violence-related housing was high due to lower rental vacancies, increasing rents and the scarcity of social housing.

“As a result, demand for our housing is very strong across Melbourne and we have a waiting list of over 130 people,” she said.

THE FACTS

IN the first eight months of 2015-16 financial year, family violence was recorded as the main reason for seeking homelessness assistance among 242 people in Hume and Moreland.

OF these 242 people, 136 (56 per cent) were already homeless.

DATA from the Department of Health and Human Services’ public housing waiting list showed that in March this year there were 1348 people in Hume and Moreland on the general waiting list.

DEPARTMENTAL data shows that in March there were 513 people in Hume and Moreland on the early housing waiting list. People on the waiting list include those who need help urgently because of homelessness, disability or other critical circumstances.

IN 2014-15 in Hume and Moreland, 148 people were allocated public housing through the early housing waiting list.

IN 2014-15, seven people in Hume and Moreland on the general waiting list were allocated a public housing property.

Source: dhs.vic.gov.au

WHO TO CALL

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, the following services provide help and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency: Call 000 and speak to the police if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732): 24-hour, national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line.

Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188 or 9322 3555.

Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292.

Men’s Referral Service: 1800 065 973.