Build more homes for survivors of domestic and family violence

When Vicky made the decision to leave her violent partner, she didn’t expect there would be worse to come.

With two children aged four and seven and another on the way, Vicky was forced into homelessness.

For months, Vicky and her children moved between motels, couch surfing with family, and women’s refuges. When the stress and instability of homelessness got too much, Vicky went back.

Eventually she left for good, but had no secure accommodation. Every morning Vicky would take the children to school before spending her days speaking to services, applying for accommodation and looking at rentals she had no way of affording.

“It’s very hard to break out of that cycle. You’re labelled, as a homeless person. You lose confidence and self-esteem. I had suicidal thoughts.” Vicky said of her ordeal.

Eventually Vicky got help and a place to call home, but not before years in and out of homelessness.

Since Vicky found a home, the housing market has only got worse for women fleeing domestic violence.

Rents across Australia have skyrocketed, putting a home out of reach for women on low or modest incomes.

Women cannot rebuild their lives and protect their children without access to safe and secure housing. There is no reason why Australia can not provide safe homes to women and children fleeing violence.

Can you sign our petition calling on the Federal Government to take action now.

Sign our petition to Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Dear Prime Minister,

As our newly commissioned report by Equity Economics, No Where to Go shows, many women and children fleeing domestic and family violence cannot secure a safe home they can afford because of the high cost of rents.

These women and their children are forced into the dangers and insecurity of homelessness, pushing many to return to a violent home.

Our report shows that providing housing for women fleeing violence so they can be safe, and rebuild their lives, would deliver enormous benefits that far outweigh the cost of housing.

In 2018-19, a woman in Australia was murdered every 10 days by an intimate partner. We have to stop the toll of violence on women by providing the housing they need to be safe.

This is why we are calling on you to make an urgent investment in social housing so that women and children can escape the violence, and build new lives.

Signed

We’ll keep you updated on the campaign. Find out more by reading our privacy policy.

Error: