A homeless shelter has just one bed free but several people in need. How do workers decide who to accept and who to turn away?
It’s the kind of choice that keeps staff up at night, given most people seeking accommodation are women and children fleeing domestic violence.
“It’s really hard to be saying no to women that they know are at risk,” Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said.
“Often they’ll read the paper [and see] terrible things happen to women like that. They wonder, ‘Is that the woman I turned away?'”
Demand at homeless services is increasing due to the housing crisis, with rents hitting record highs and longer wait times for social housing.
This also means people escaping domestic violence have fewer options for moving out.
Consultancy firm Equity Economics estimates 18,700 people — mostly women and children — became homeless due to domestic violence in 2024, more than double its 2021 estimate of 9,120.
Ms Colvin said previously it would have been unheard of to turn away women and children from a homeless service as they are usually given priority.
But during a recent Homelessness Australia survey of 23 services, families were turned away on at least one in five days.
“That means … they did get through the front door and they’re talking to a homelessness worker, but the worker has to say, ‘I’m sorry, we don’t have anything left’,” she said.
‘Nowhere to go’
The impact of the housing crisis is also being felt inside specialist domestic violence services.
Nicole Yade from the Women and Girls Emergency Centre in Sydney said there were far more people needing their services than there were beds.
“Our frontline staff have got a really, really hard job,” she said.
“Sometimes they’ve got one room available and a couple of different families who are in need.”
Some women and children who cannot get into refuge will be placed into hotels instead — but when that happens, they are more likely to return to the perpetrator, Ms Yade said.
For people who are fortunate enough to be accepted into specialist DV accommodation, the housing crisis means they are staying longer than required because “there’s nowhere for them to go”, Ms Yade said.
In Melbourne, Refuge Victoria’s services are reserved for people who need the highest levels of protection. Their clients have often quit their jobs or left their schools to escape violence.
Staff do their best to make the facility comfortable:
- There are playgrounds and toys for kids.
- The units are modern and include a small yard.
- Pets can be accommodated.
- There are staff on-site 24/7.
Domestic violence refuges say there aren’t enough beds for the number of people who need them. (ABC News: Dylan Goolagong)
But while the facilities are comfortable, it’s no substitute for a home. CCTV cameras are everywhere and there are strict measures at all entry and exit points.
Even simple outings like seeing a doctor or visiting a friend require a safety plan for leaving the facility.
Here too, people often stay longer than planned because of a lack of options in the housing market.
“If we had more affordable housing exits, then we would be able to move women through our refuge much quicker — but we’re not able to,” Refuge Victoria’s CEO Janet Jukes said.
Violence becoming worse
Along with the increasing demand for services, domestic violence services are also dealing with more complex cases.
Technology has exacerbated domestic abuse, making it easier for perpetrators to track and stalk victims, both Ms Yade and Ms Jukes confirmed.
Refuge Victoria has also seen a growing number of women whose perpetrators are involved with organised crime or bikie gangs.
“Managing that violence is really, really difficult, and it poses an additional risk for our staff,” Ms Jukes said.
When victims do get into refuge, it can be life-changing.
Domestic violence workers want all victims to have the opportunity to rebuild their lives. (ABC News: Dylan Goolagong)
Ms Yade recalled a mum who brought in two young children after leaving a violent partner. The children had witnessed horrific acts against their mother and had been abused themselves. They were traumatised and afraid of strangers.
“They weren’t even speaking,” Ms Yade said. “They were … spitting and kicking and punching anybody who came close to them.”
But after a couple of weeks in the shelter and with help from staff, the children started to feel safe.
“At first they’d peer around the corner and kind of give a little wave and run off,” Ms Yade said.
“And then, in time, they would come and say ‘Hello Nic’ and give me a high five. I’d be working in my office, and there’d be a little drawing come in under the door.”
Housing solutions needed
Domestic violence workers want all victims to have the same opportunity — and say there are several measures that could help.
Ms Yade would like to see better funding for homeless services, more affordable housing and higher Centrelink payments that can cover rent.
Ms Jukes said Victoria’s 2015 family violence royal commission had already led to “massive” improvements, including better coordination between services, more flexible funding and more refuge beds.
Investing more in prevention — such as services that help violent men — would also make a difference, she said.
“A lot of men don’t want to be violent, but actually need to learn how to not do that in their relationships.”
Loading…
