By Gabriella Payne
Like other family violence response centres in Melbourne, Safe Steps have noticed an alarming trend in the local area – there’s not enough safe and affordable housing to go around.
With record numbers of people fleeing violence, there’s a desperate need for housing now more than ever, as many are at risk of homelessness if the situation continues to worsen.
Rita Butera, the CEO of Safe Steps said that there was no doubt that the housing situation in the south east had become a huge crisis, and something needed to be done urgently to help vulnerable victims.
“Safe Steps is receiving record numbers of calls from women experiencing family violence and friends, family and colleagues worried about their safety who need assistance with safety planning, risk assessment – and for 100 women and children each night, emergency accommodation, because they are at high risk of harm,“ Ms Butera said.
“The lack of affordable housing is the biggest issue facing women and children who are rebuilding their lives after escaping family violence.
“We need more emergency accommodation and more housing for families establishing a future free from family violence,“ she said.
Providing an all hours service for those in need, the team at Safe Steps have seen the impacts of this crisis firsthand.
Ms Butera said that many of these victims still remained at risk and that more housing was desperately needed.
“At our service – Victoria’s 24/7 family violence crisis centre – about 30 per cent of women and children who leave our emergency accommodation are referred to homelessness services, because they are unable to get a private rental and there are simply not enough public housing options,“ she said.
“This often results in victim-survivors returning to unsafe situations through a lack of viable options.
“There are not enough refuge places available in the time of crisis and we need more transitional housing.“
Ms Butera said that the Safe Steps team would continue to work tirelessly to support those in need, and she encouraged community members to raise their voices and join their ’Walk Against Family Violence’ on Thursday 25 November to raise awareness.
The ’Walk Against Family Violence’ is a local walk from home, where people wear something orange and share a picture to social media using the hashtags #WhyWeWalk #WAFV2021.
To register and for more information visit walk.safesteps.org.au
