More than 230 organisations working at the coalface of domestic violence and homelessness have signed a joint statement calling for a commitment to safe and affordable social housing from today's National Women's Safety Summit.
Housing only has a fleeting reference in the agenda, despite the fact 7,690 women return to perpetrators of violence each year because they have nowhere to live. And an alarming 9,120 women a year become homeless after leaving their homes due to domestic and family violence and being unable to secure long term housing.
Signatories to the statement include large advocacy and peak organisations such as ACOSS, Shelter and the ACTU, through to women's refuges, homelessness services and community legal centres.
In addition to the joint statement, Everybody's Home, the national campaign against homelessness, is convening a special online event focusing on the importance of housing and women's safety. The event begins at 08:15 and can be accessed through this hyperlink
Everybody's Home spokesperson, Kate Colvin said housing was absolutely central to women's safety.
"You simply can't talk about women's safety without talking about safe and affordable homes. Women and children in danger need a safe haven and it is incumbent on the Commonwealth Government to address this crisis."
In Australia each year 39,000 people come to homelessness services seeking long term housing after experiencing domestic and family violence. Of those, 37,867 miss out on long term housing.
"Thousands of women across Australia are currently having to choose between staying in a violent home and homelessness. That is unacceptable," Ms Colvin said.
Everybody's Home is calling on the Federal Government to set a target to end homelessness for women and children fleeing violence, an investment to deliver an adequate supply of new social and affordable housing for women and children fleeing violence, and better social security, to protect women and children from poverty and homelessness.
"Without further funding for social housing and an improvement in social security payments, the Federal Government cannot begin to address domestic violence in an adequate way. We need those changes to be made urgently," Ms Colvin said.
Economic modelling by Equity Economics released in July revealed If the Commonwealth Government invested in 16,800 additional social housing units for women escaping violence, the $7.6 billion cost would be dwarfed by immediate economic benefits of $15.3 billion and the creation of 47,000 new jobs. It found the additional social housing would generate savings of $122.5 million in a year due to women not returning to a violent partner and a further $257 million in a year in savings due to women not experiencing homelessness after leaving their homes due to family and domestic violence.
The Housing and Women's Safety Summit starts at 8.15am on Monday 6 September, right before the start of the National Women's Safety Summit.
Speakers include:
- Kate Colvin, National Spokesperson, Everybody's Home
- Dr Kyllie Cripps, Palawa woman, Scientia Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW Sydney
- Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist, Equity Economics
- Video message from Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and Minister for Women's Safety
- The Hon Linda Burney MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
- Tania Farha, CEO, Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) and Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV)
- Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, ACOSS
- Talie Star, a consumer advocate with experience of homelessness and domestic/family violence
4 Voices Global Limited
Access Community Housing Company
Accordwest
ACON
ACT Council of Social Service
ACT Shelter
Affordable Housing Solutions
Anglicare Australia
Anglicare Victoria
Annie North
Anti-Poverty Week
Australian Alliance to End Homelessness
Australian Communities Foundation
Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
Australian Ecuatorian Cultural Association
B Miles Women's Foundation
Ballarat Community Health
Baptist Care Australia
Basic Rights Queensland ; Working Womens Centre Qld
Bega Women's Resource Centre
Beryl Women Inc.
Bethlehem House Tasmania
Better Renting
Beyond Your Bump
Blacktown Womens and Girls Health Centre
Bondi Beach Cottage
Bridge Housing Limited
Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project
Brisbane Youth Service
Bryant's Bookkeeping Services
Caroline Chisholm Society
Catherine House, Housing Choices SA
Catholic Care Western Sydney and The Blue Mountains
Catholiccare Diocese of Broken Bay
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Centre for Non-Violence
Centre for Social Impact
Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing
CFMEU Construction and General Division
Churches Housing Incorporated
Churches of Christ Housing Services Ltd.
Quantum Support Services
CIT Student Association
Coffs Harbour Neighborhood Centre
Coffs Harbour Older Women's Network
Coffs-Clarence WDVCAS
cohealth
Common Equity Nsw Ltd
Common Ground Queensland
Community and Public Sector Union
Community Housing Industry Association
Community Housing Industry Association Victoria
Community Housing Industry Association NSW
Community Housing Limited
Community Information & Support Victoria
Community Northern Beaches Inc.
Community Resource Network Inc
Compass Housing Services Co Ltd
Consult Talie
Co-operation Housing
Council of Single Mothers and their Children
Council to Homeless Persons
Cumberland Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Dawn House
Daydawn Advocacy Centre
Democracy in Colour
DG Media Projects
Disability Justice Australia
Domestic Violence Crisis Service
Domestic Violence NSW
Domestic Violence Victoria/Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria
Doris Women's Refuge Inc.
DV West
EACH Housing
Eastern Community Legal Centre
EDVOS
EMILY's List Australia
Fair Agenda
Family Access Network Inc
Fiji Diaspora Women's Alliance (FDWA)
Financial Counselling Australia
Firefly Interactive Pty Ltd
Foyer Foundation
Gender Equity Victoria (GENVIC)
Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth Inc.
Good Samaritan Inn
Grampians Community Health
Gunnedah Family Support
Habitat for Humanity Australia
Haven Home Safe
Health Services Union
Highlands Community Centres Inc.
Hodyl & Co
Homelessness Australia
Homelessness NSW
Homes Out West
Hope Street Youth and Family Services
Housing Choices Australia
Housing Choices Tasmania
Housing Choices Western Australia
Housing for the Aged Action Group
Housing Plus
Hume Riverina Community Legal Service
Illawarra Women's Health Centre
Indian (Sub-Cont) Crisis & Support Agency
Jenny's Place Inc
Jesuit Social Services
Jireh House
Justice Connect
Karinya House for Mothers and Babies
Latitude: Directions for Young People
Launceston City Mission
Launch Housing
Orana Support Service
Linking Communities Network Ltd
Lirata Ltd
Lisa Harnum Foundation
Lou's Place
Macleod Refuge
Mallee Family Care
McAuley Community Services for Women
Melbourne City Mission
Mentis Assist
Merri Outreach Support Service Ltd
Metro Community Housing
Mid Coast Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Mission Australia
Molonglo Support Services Ltd
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre Inc
Moving Forward DFV Case Management Services Inc.
Mt Druitt Family Violence Service
Murrumbidgee Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Muslim Women Australia
Nambour Community Centre Inc
NAPCAN
Narrabri & District Comminty Aid Service - NHSS
National Alliance of Seniors for Housing
National Older Women's Network Inc
National Shelter Inc.
National Union of Students
Newcastle WDVCAS
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
North Coast Community Housing
Northern Centre against Sexual Assault
Northern Rivers Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Northern Sydney Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Northside Community Service
NT Shelter
NT Working Women's Centre
Older Women's Network NSW
Older Women's Network Qld Inc
Pacific Link Housing
Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc
Peel Youth Services
Port Stephens Family Family and Neighbourhood Services
Primary Care Connect
Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia
RDO.
Beyond Housing
Sacred Heart Mission
Safe Futures Foundation
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre
SCALES Community Legal Centre
Settlement Services International
SGCH
Sharehouse Youth Programs Inc
Shelter NSW
Shelter SA
Shelter Tasmania
Shelter WA
Sonshine Sanctuary Association Incorp
Soroptimist International Maylands Peninsula
Soroptimist International of South Perth
South Port Community Housing Group
South West Sydney Legal Centre
Southern Youth and Family Services
St John's Community Services/ Rough Edges
St Vincent de Paul Society National Council
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW
St Vincent de Paul Society Tasmania
St Vincent's Health Australia
Support The Girls Australia
Sydney Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Sydney Women's Counselling Centre
Tenants Queensland
Tenants' Union ACT
Tenants' Union NSW
Tenants Victoria
The Footpath Library Ltd
The Haymarket Foundation
The Huon Domestic Violence Service
The Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
The Money Project
The SAFV Centre
The Salvation Army
Thrive Services
UMFC
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Uniting NSW.ACT
Uniting Vic.Tas
UnitingCare Australia
Unity Housing Company
Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS)
Victorian Public Tenants Association
VincentCare
Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd
VMCH
Warrina Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services
Wayss Ltd
Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
Weave Youth and Community Services
Western Australian Council for Social Services
Westside Housing Company
Whittlesea Community Connections
Wintringham
WIRE
WomanGoingPlaces
Women Illawarra
Women Working Wonders
Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre
Women's Community Shelters
Women's Electoral Lobby Australia
Women's Health NSW
Women's Health Queensland
Women's Health Victoria
Women's Housing Company Limited
Women's Legal Service Tasmania
Women's Liberation Halfway House
Women's Property Initiatives
WRISC Family Violence Support Inc
Women Up North Housing
Yes Unlimited
Youth Family & Community Connections
Yfoundations
Youth Futures Inc.
Youth Off The Streets
Youth Projects
YWCA Australia
YWCA Canberra
Zonta House Refuge Association Inc
