When Megan's ex-husband locked her and her children out of their house, the mother-of-two suddenly had no home and no source of income.
"He'd do silly things to show he was watching, like at one place where we were staying he'd take one of my son's work boots … to show he had control," she said. Finally, after calling several support services, the family was referred to McAuley Community Services for Women and provided crisis accommodation.Jocelyn Bignold, CEO of McAuley, said a lack of government funding for social and affordable housing, population growth, and cost-of-living pressures have all contributed to the rental squeeze.
"Real estate agents will generally prioritise a dual income or no children because they are a more secure bet," Ms Toohey said. "Even if they can afford a rental, they are less likely to be allocated that rental, so we see a huge squeeze on single parents, and that has a flow through to women experiencing family violence and their willingness to leave a violent situation."
She said interpreters from the same cultural background as the victim-survivor could help to build trust and pass on advice on the best interventions. "We know there is more to do and that's why we are building more homes than ever before … and prioritising family violence victim-survivors."For Susan, homelessness didn't mean sleeping on the streets; sometimes she stayed in a van or house-sat for friends while they were away.
Susan pointed to a Preston housing development, located near shops and public transport, as a good example. The worker addresses the victim's support needs, including providing immediate safety and helping them navigate services to secure long-term housing. 'Thank God!' Australians relieved as first evacuation flights land after mission to riot-stricken New CaledoniaPolice ask prosecutors to suspend inquiry into William Tyrrell's former foster mother