Two new women’s crisis accommodations are now under construction in New South Wales’ Northern Beaches, with plans to deliver the second in Canterbury-Bankstown.
The new refuges will be housed in the Northern Beaches and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas (LGA).
The areas were selected due to both demonstrating a significant need for additional crisis support in the domestic violence space. By implementing the new crisis refuges initiatives, the additional support needs will hopefully be met.
The program is made possible through a $6 million capital funding grant under the New South Wales Government’s Core and Cluster program. The refuges will be delivered in partnership with Women’s Community Shelters and community housing providers, Link Wentworth Housing and Bridge Housing.
New South Wales Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, said that securing safe housing remained a critical hurdle in overcoming domestic violence and is a key factor in victim-survivors ability to leave violent relationships.
“Ensuring women and children escaping domestic violence have access to a safe and secure home is crucial to creating better outcomes for people in crisis,” Ms Jackson said.
“Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness across NSW and the country. We must do everything we can to support people in vulnerable situations, and getting them into safe accommodation with wrap-around support is where we need to start.
“The Core and Cluster programs, across all 3 tranches, once completed, will enable crisis accommodation and support for an additional 2900 women and their children every year.”
State Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said that both refuges will be completed later in the year and will provide support for victim-survivors.
“We are seeing unprecedented reports of domestic and family violence,” Ms Harrison said.
“The NSW Government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to counter domestic violence through perpetrator intervention, remand programs, safe rooms, and law reforms.
“The expansion of women’s refuges through the Core and Cluster program is a critical part of the system giving women and children a safe place to go to when they need it. The model provides safety for women and children escaping domestic violence, and the new design means women and their children have greater privacy and independence within self-contained units, and they can even bring their pets with them.”
Women’s Community Shelters CEO, Annabelle Daniel, said that by delivering the refuges under the New South Wales Government’s Core and Cluster model, victim-survivors will have all the support they need for planning their future and staying safe.
“Specialist domestic and family violence services are a lifeline for women and children fleeing abuse,” Ms Daniel said.
“Women’s Community Shelters is committed to pursuing innovative opportunities to continuously evolve our service delivery model, informed by the lived expertise of our residents.
“This partnership represents true collaboration between the NSW Government, the domestic violence and housing sectors, amazing local communities and philanthropy.”
