Shelter calls for victims fleeing violence

MELISSA CUNNINGHAM- The Courier, 3rd October 2015

ON THE FRONTLINE: WRISC executive manager Anita Kolle and family violence support worker Asha Milnbe are calling for urgent investment into housing and crisis shelter for women fleeing women. Picture: Melissa Cunningham.

BALLARAT welfare workers have warned of a dire shortage of housing and crisis accommodation for women and children fleeing family violence across the city. WRISC family violence support worker, Asha Milne, revealed some women were on the brink of homelessness and forced back into unsafe homes after enduring horrendous abuse because they felt they had nowhere else to go.

"There are very few houses where we can provide emergency accommodation to women in the city," Ms Milne said. "At most, they can stay there only about thirteen days. If there is not an opening for transitional housing in that time many will decide to return home despite it being unsafe for them and their children."

She said the complexity surrounding the issue meant many women seeking shelter in refuges or crisis accommodation had strict security procedures they must adhered to.

"Often they have to have no contact with family members which can make a lot of women reluctant to stay for too long," Ms Milne said.

She said government funding for emergency accommodation was urgently needed with UnitingCare continually inundated with housing requests from victims of violence. WRISC acting executive manager Anita Koelle said despite victims being put on a high priority list, the number of houses available was grossly inadequate to the demand.

"We hold serious concerns that if there is no improvements we will not have the capacity to meet the demand," she said.

While the duo welcome the $100 million federal government package, they questioned how much of the funding would trickle down to services in Ballarat.  Ms Koelle said more funding was also needed to tackle cultural attitudes like gender inequality and respectful relationships at the heart of family violence.

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