A Safe Place to Call Home

The Federal Government provided the partnership with $2.5 million in funding to develop these purpose-built homes in response to our dedicated advocacy calling for increased investment into emergency and transitional housing for women and children experiencing family violence in our region. The homes have been constructed to a high standard including a minimum 7-star energy efficiency rating and additional safety features to ensure residents feel safe in their new homes.

The build was managed by Haven Home Safe who will also provide ongoing tenancy services with referral supports from local specialist family violence partners, Annie North and the Centre for Non-Violence.

At the launch, Federal MP Lisa Chesters spoke to the Federal Government’s recognition of the shortage of safe places for women and children experiencing family violence and it’s commitment to continue to build safe places.

The housing will support women and children escaping family violence with a focus on First Nations women and children, women and children from CALD backgrounds and women and children with disability.

As Central Victoria’s leading specialist family violence service provider, we are all too aware of the impacts of family violence on women and children in our region.

Family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia and our region in particular, is facing a critical housing affordability and availability shortage. Last financial year, CNV provided more than 16,000 nights of emergency accommodation.

Far too often an emergency housing response is a motel room. And for many women and children, this type of emergency accommodation can last up to 5 months. First Nation women and children in particular face barriers to safe and accessible housing options and are more likely to require longer stays in emergency housing.

The build of these three townhouses represent safety, and hope for a future free from family violence – they are purpose built, offering privacy, dignity a safe place to call home, while escaping and recovering from family violence – all with wrap around referral supports provided in partnership with Annie North and CNV. We know that housing security is integral to improved lives and safer outcomes for adult and children survivors of family violence, it is more than a house: it’s connection to community, to schools, to work, to friends and family.

We look forward to welcoming families in the near future into these homes and supporting them on their journey to safety and healing.

CNV welcomes the commitment by the Australian Government to this build. It is hoped that we can continue to build on this successful program with more much needed homes right across our region. We know that improved outcomes for women and children experiencing family violence require a safe place to call home.

It is the hope of the partnership that there is a future where no one experiencing family violence has to make the decision to stay in the relationship or risk homelessness. These safe homes are proof that this future is possible.

CNV also wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Haven Home Safe and Annie North for their commitment to this partnership and initiative.