Domestic and family violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women

Today in Parliament, Abigail gave notice of a motion acknowledging Homelessness Week and calling on the NSW Government to tackle the homelessness crisis, especially for domestic and family violence victim-survivors, by investing in front line services and significantly expanding access to long-term, affordable housing.

Abigail said:

I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move: 

(1) That this House notes that: 

  • 5 August to 11 August 2024 marked this year’s Homelessness Week, an annual initiative hosted by Homelessness Australia to demand government commitment to end homelessness with real solutions  for change;
  • domestic and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and is the main reason women and children leave their homes in Australia, with older women, people with disability, First Nations people and people who live in regional and rural areas most disproportionately affected;
  • according to Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW), in the last year 37,792 people were seeking long term housing after experiencing domestic and family violence, but only 1,365 were provided long term housing; 
  • according to Homelessness Australia’s “State of Response Report 2024”, 
    • in the past decade from 2012-13 to 2022-23, the number of women and children sleeping rough or in a car in NSW has more than doubled, and the number of women and children couch surfing has almost tripled, and
    • from 2021–22 to 2022-23, the number of women and children sleeping rough or in a car after receiving support increased by 4 percent, and in 2022-23, 13,643 women and 10,773 children who had experienced domestic and family violence were assisted by homelessness services in NSW;
  • Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) in NSW continue to go underfunded by the NSW Government, in need of $52 million just to meet demand. These services provide the main crisis response for women and children who are forced to leave their home due to violence, yet data suggests that for many there is little services can do to provide a pathway into stable, secure, long-term housing due to lack of availability and accessibility;
  • victim-survivors, advocates and the domestic violence sector have long called for the NSW Government to urgently invest in social housing to support victim-survivors to have access to safe long term housing and to escape violence; and 
  • without access to stable, safe, accessible and affordable long term housing, the homelessness crisis we are facing will only worsen, and victim-survivors of domestic and family violence will continue to bear the brunt of inadequate government action. 

(2) That this House calls on the NSW Government to urgently prioritise ending homelessness in NSW by properly investing in crisis and temporary accommodation that is accessible for all victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, and to commit to far bolder investment in accessible and available long term housing. 

 

15 August 2024

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