The State Government is establishing its $2.16 million Rapid Rehousing Pilot to help women and children escaping family and domestic violence to secure their own home.
The Rapid Rehousing Pilot will trial two initiatives which assist eligible women – with or without children – to leave refuges and secure tenancies in the private rental market.
One of the initiatives is dedicated exclusively to Aboriginal women, as they experience family and domestic violence, and homelessness at a significantly higher rate.
Funding will be used to assist up to 80 women a year, providing bond and a rental subsidy for 20 weeks, with the service provider permitted to exercise discretion and customise the assistance package where appropriate.
The Rapid Rehousing Pilot delivers on an election commitment under the $29.5 million Safe Home, Safe Family package of new responses to family and domestic violence.
The State Government has launched an expression of interest (EOI), seeking services to deliver the Rapid Rehousing Pilot.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are strongly encouraged to bid for both initiatives through the EOI.
The EOI can be viewed on Tenders WA.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
“No woman should find herself homeless because she has the courage to escape a violent relationship.
“The Rapid Rehousing Pilot will assist women who are escaping family violence to secure their own home – giving them a financial safety net and more disposable income to help them build stable, independent lives.
“In launching this expression of interest, the State Government is delivering on an important election commitment to assist with providing safe and stable housing to victim survivors of family and domestic violence, upon exit from women’s refuges or safe houses.
“These important initiatives will support eligible women to successfully transition from crisis accommodation to secure tenancies in the private rental market, by providing substantial subsidies toward the bond and rent.
“The State Government has made addressing family and domestic violence a priority, by investing more than $150 million in funding towards family and domestic violence services since coming into Government.”
