Speaking out on family violence and homelessness

McAuley Community Services for Women has joined forces with other organisations working in the fields of family violence and homelessness to urge stronger actions to address growing issues that are putting women and children at risk.

Letter to Women’s Safety Ministers on urgent actions for women’s safety

Together with over 80 organisations with expertise in family violence we have called for a commitment to comprehensive reform to prevent all forms of violence against women. Five desperately needed changes were put forward:

• fully fund specialist family violence services
• prioritise the  safety of children in family law decisions
• ensure public health, social and community services are trained to identify key safety risks early
• improved processes around intervention orders
• Ensure victims/survivors seeking help can access free translating and interpreting services.

Full details on the letter are on the website of the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance.

Homelessness and family violence

We also added our voice to a joint letter urging action on the growing numbers of women needing homelessness support because of family violence. A lack of social housing is putting women at risk and giving them nowhere to go when they want to leave a violent relationship.

The letter was sent to the Victorian Government by the Council to Homeless Persons and can be accessed here.

More information

Our submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness also raises concerns about the links between family violence and homelessness, as well as women’s stories and views about the urgent need for improvements.