Premier

Housing Options For Those Affected By Family Violence

28 May 2017

Another 110 properties will be provided as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s investment to provide support to women and children impacted by family violence.

Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley said the funding would also allow for the redevelopment and reform of family violence refuges and provide long term housing options.

The $133.2 million package includes:

  • $83.2 million to redevelop all Victorian refuges to core and cluster facilities and construct two new Aboriginal refuges in the new model
  • $48 million to provide an additional 110 public housing properties specifically for women and children affected by family violence
  • $2 million to privately lease homes ensuring women and children can access housing support

The refuge funding builds on the $21 million investment made last year to start the redevelopment of four communal refuges to the new core and cluster models.

The leasing funding builds on last year’s Rapid Housing Family Violence program which has already seen over 300 properties either acquired or leased.

Furthermore, through a $17.4 million investment, specialist family violence advisers will work with major mental health and AOD services across Victoria in joined-up action to respond to family violence.

Victims of family violence in the LGBTI community will also be provided support through $400,000 in case management funding to the Victorian AIDS Council and Drummond St Services. The funding will help build capacity to improve responses to LGBTI people across the family violence sector.

Additionally $100,000 will be provided to strengthen the support available and provide culturally-specific case management to Muslim women at risk of or experiencing family violence.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley

“Many women are forced to leave their home and are often faced with the dilemma of where to go – this funding will provide that refuge, that place in the storm required in the short and longer term.”

“We are providing landmark investments in housing and crisis accommodation – enabling a safe place while these women and children access other support services and begin recovering and rebuilding their lives.”

“Through our unprecedented $1.9 billion investment we will support Victorians at a time when they need it most and work to put an end to family violence.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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