Domestic abusers banished from family homes in ‘lifesaving’ program

This “lifesaving” move is turning the tables back on Melbourne’s domestic abusers, forcing them to own up to their behaviour.

Domestic abusers are being put up in hotels across Victoria in a nation-first program holding men to account, instead of forcing victims to flee their homes.

The “lifesaving” program has been described as one of the state’s biggest moves to turn the tables back on men — not women and children — in a bid to change abusive behaviour.

More than 170 perpetrators have been rehoused in hotels and motels across Victoria since the Perpetrator Accommodation Support Service (PASS) launched last August.

Men must be legally excluded from their household — a common condition of a family violence intervention order — and engage with support services such as counselling to qualify for the accommodation.

The program enables closer supervision of offenders, while putting space between the perpetrators and victims.

Russell Hooper from No to Violence, which runs the program in partnership with the Salvation Army, said it was important to shift the burden of violence on to perpetrators.

“The purpose of our service isn’t about free accommodation for men — it’s victims’ safety,” he said.

Head of No to Violence Russell Hooper says the hotel program removes the perpetrator rather than forcing the victim to leave their home. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“As soon as a dollar goes to a support service for perpetrators, some think that’s taking a dollar away from victim support but that’s not true.

“It’s about shifting the accountability and burden to men, not survivors, and keeping them in view.”

The state government invested $1.67m in the 12-month pilot program, which launched amid concerns for victims isolated in homes with abusers during coronavirus lockdowns.

Family violence advocates believe the program is a “big step forward” in the state’s response to family violence and hope it will be expanded in the future.

Mr Hooper said “removing someone in crisis from a house is potentially lifesaving”

On average men spend 10 days in the crisis accommodation and are required to regularly engage with the Men’s Referral Service, which offers counselling, drug and alcohol support and longer-term housing assistance.

Those who do not engage with the services are booted from the program.

New data from the Men’s Referral Service shows a surge in men reaching out for family ­violence support.

The service received 4009 calls and web chat requests from September 2020 to February 2021, which is 21 per cent more than the previous 12-month period.

Mr Hooper said the program was “potentially lifesaving”. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A government spokesman said it was important to “hold men who use violence to account“ to change their behaviours and keep victims safe.

“Providing accommodation to perpetrators means victim survivors of family violence aren’t forced out of their homes — enabling them and their children to stay near work, school, friends and family,” the spokesman said.

Victoria Police encourages men who need help to reach out to the Men’s Referral Service.

Keeping perpetrators in view and protecting victims was a top policing priority, a spokesperson said.

“Victoria Police makes appropriate referrals for both the victim and perpetrator in family violence incidents so that they can to live safely, free from violence and abuse,” the spokesperson said.

“In circumstances when family members need to be separated to ensure their safety, police will make every effort to support the victim survivor to stay in their home, especially when children are present.”

“While it is not a sole solution to family violence, emergency accommodation removes violence from the home, including the impact to children, which we know can be lifelong.”

Men’s Referral Service can be reached at 1300 766 491.

HOME, HELP CAN TURN A LIFE AROUND

Steve* spent years locked up in prison for violence.

When he was released, he cleaned himself up and started a family.

But it wasn’t long into his new life that things took a turn.

His partner took out an intervention order against him and after several breaches, he wound up back in prison.

“I was jailed over a triple breach,” he said. “I was fighting to see my children.”

The 31-year-old scaffolder spent just over two months behind bars before being paroled to his sister’s home late last year.

Things were good for the first four months.

But they slowly deteriorated and he was eventually ordered to leave her home.

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said.

The father of two sought help from the Men’s Referral Service, which helped put him up at the Prince Mark Hotel in Doveton for two weeks.

He was able to continue working during that time, but most importantly, he was able to get help.

“Leaving my sister’s house was a stressful time. I used to be a drug addict and that could have caused me to relapse,” he said.

Steve said he was given drug, alcohol and behavioural counselling that helped turn his life around.

“It was good to speak to someone who was familiar with the whole situation and didn’t judge me,” he said.

“They also helped me get into the house I am living in.

“It is a really positive program and I am really lucky to have been involved in it.”

*Steve is not his real name