LABOR candidate for Flinders, Sarah Race, has welcomed the federal government’s announcement that Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) will be funded to purchase three dwellings on the Mornington Peninsula.
The funding is part of a $100 million commitment to 41 organisations around Australia for new crisis and transitional housing for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence. The organisation is in the process of establishing their first Victorian-based shelter on the peninsula. It will provide crisis accommodation for up to 70 clients within the first year including 30 women and 40 children, totalling over 3,400 bed nights.
WCS operate a unique social franchise model, intended to empower the community and provide education at local schools (Protecting women from violence through education and enlightenment, The News 5/11/24). The model involves the establishing of a local board, with the shelters funded by government contributions, local fundraising and philathropy.
“Women’s Community Shelters is enormously grateful for this investment, which comes at a pivotal time for our Mornington Peninsula board and community capacity-building efforts,” said the chief executive officer of Women’s Community Shelters, Annabelle Daniel OAM. “It’s so important to create safe and supported shelters where women experiencing domestic violence and homelessness can remain connected to their communities and build safe futures for themselves and their children.”
Race applauded the funding commitment telling The News “We need this investment in crisis accommodation and I’m proud that the Labor government has delivered”. “I’ve worked with Annabelle and the local team at Women’s Community Shelters over an extended period. I am ecstatic that they have been successful and can now contribute to better outcomes for local women and children on the Peninsula.”
Southern Women’s Action Group (SWAN) have been lobbying government for funding for homeless accomodation and crisis accommodation, and have welcomed the government’s commitment. “Putting a roof over the heads of women and children who are experiencing family and domestic violence is a key priority. While this by no means a solution it provides crucial short-term assistance for some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Diane McDonald, SWAN Facilitator.
“At last someone has started to listen to the desperate pleas of those women trapped in violent situations with nowhere to go,” said Maureen Donelly, SWAN Women Against Gender-based Violence Group. “Access to crisis housing, if accompanied with well-funded support, is a basic human right. But the peninsula continues to miss out. While this funding announcement is welcome news, we also need adequate low-cost long-term housing to avoid crisis housing bottlenecks.”
Funded through Labor’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), the Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program (CTAP) supports the building, remodelling or purchase of new or expanded crisis or transitional accommodation. CTAP aligns with the Government’s broader housing and women’s safety agendas, including the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, the National Housing Infrastructure Facility and builds on the work of existing emergency and crisis accommodation programs like the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program.
First published in the Mornington News – 11 February 2025
