Community-led approach to addressing domestic violence and homelessness

Communities across Australia face the urgent need to respond to and prevent domestic and family violence and women and children’s homelessness. These issues are not isolated incidents but represent a nationwide crisis. How can we as a community come together to tackle these social problems, particularly in Victoria? One answer lies in establishing a new community-led crisis shelter on the Mornington Peninsula.

In Victoria, the statistics are stark. Each year more than 50,000 women and children find themselves homeless, often as a result of DFV. The existing shelter and refuge system is overwhelmed, forcing many women and children into unsatisfactory and unsafe accommodation such as motels, hotels, couch surfing, cars and tents. The situation has only worsened over the years, with a 135 per cent increase in the number of women seeking long-term housing since 2015, according to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s 2022 annual report. The average wait time for those facing violence or homelessness has ballooned to 17.1 months, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

On the Peninsula, the lack of government-funded crisis shelters tailored to women’s and children’s needs exacerbates the problem. Limited NGO support for preventative care leaves many at high risk of homelessness. Additionally, rising housing costs and a surge in short-stay tourism accommodation further contributes to the homelessness crisis, with rough sleeping rates nearly three times the national average.

Enter Women’s Community Shelters, an organisation that has revolutionised responses to women’s homelessness and DFV in NSW. With a focus on community ownership and action, WCS has established crisis shelters and safe housing pathways, supported by landmark partnerships with governments and advocacy for capital investment and law reform. Now, WCS aims to replicate this success in Victoria, starting with the Peninsula.

Local advocates, with the support of the council, have reached out to WCS for assistance. Together, they envision establishing the first WCS crisis shelter for women and children in Victoria within the next 18 months. WCS’s track record speaks volumes: 11 crisis shelters and 63 transitional homes have provided crucial support to hundreds of women and children in NSW. Programs like Walk the Talk engage high school students in preventing DFV, while advocacy efforts push for legislative change at the systems level.

Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM emphasises the importance of innovation in creating change. With calculated risks and proper governance, WCS is paving the way for a brighter future for vulnerable individuals across Australia. As part of its efforts, WCS has appointed a project manager on the Peninsula and formed a steering committee of passionate locals to guide the project.