Local DV support group struggles with demand
LEADING domestic violence organisation, Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) is struggling to keep up with demand as shelters are being forced to turn away at least one family a day, due to a lack of available accommodation.
WCS says the number of unassisted people grew by 19% compared to 12 months prior.
Parramatta women’s shelter manager Tania Smith says shelters are becoming bottlenecks for families with no place to go.
“We’ve seen a huge increase on demand at our shelter. There are women and families looking for help and we physically don’t have any room for them. On average, we would turn away at least one family a day.”
“It puts an enormous strain on our already struggling case workers because they’re ultimately the ones to make that decision of who can stay. As a result, even families in serious crisis are missing out. We’re noticing families are now staying longer in shelters due to the housing crisis and that’s creating even more problems.”
“In our shelter, we’re also seeing more referrals for women on temporary visas. They aren’t eligible for government payments and on top of experiencing domestic and family violence they’re often dealing with other traumas and that makes them incredibly vulnerable.”
WCS confirms that for every 100 women that were accommodated in WCS shelters and transitional properties, 99 weren’t accommodated primarily due to no available accommodation.
Annabelle Daniel, CEO of Women’s Community Shelters (WSC) says: “It is simple: there is a lack of available accommodation. While Australians are facing a housing availability crisis, a housing affordability crisis and a construction crisis, women who are affected by domestic and family violence are at the nexus of all three.”
In 2024, WCS saw an increase in domestic and family violence as the main reason for clients turning to its services, with now 70% of crisis shelter clients coming to WCS due to this.
Worryingly, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis that continues to grip Australians coupled with the ongoing housing affordability / supply crisis, has shown that there is a 13% increase in the number of women who are employed now seeking WCS’s support.
Annabelle Daniel says: “In NSW alone, we need another 170,000 safe ‘bed nights’ annually for the women and children who are turned away from crisis accommodation shelters. A bed in a supportive shelter can be the different between staying alive, or out of hospital.”
Even though there is a lack of available accommodation, in 2024 WCS was able to assist 2 in 3 women and children into safe and secure housing.
Annabelle Daniel says: “A key strength of our community-led social franchise model is the local community connections that our case managers develop, which is underpinning these impressive housing outcomes.
“However, we need more available accommodation and more community support in order to help more women and children still fleeing domestic and family violence.”
Visit: www.womenscommunityshelters.org.au
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