The path from violence to freedom requires more investment if we expect it to support the women and children who are impacted by family and domestic violence, Anglicare Sydney said today, as the Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commission’s Yearly Report was tabled in Parliament.
“Minister Plibersek was right that progress is not success, and we must do more to ensure that people can leave domestic and family violence safely, and that they are provided with the support they need to rebuild their lives,” Claire Dunlop, General Manager of Wellbeing at Anglicare Sydney said.
Anglicare Sydney echoed calls for continued investment that supports people to achieve safety and the acknowledgment that financial barriers in particular housing is one of the greatest restraints on achieving long-term safety (Recommendation 4).
Research by Anglicare Sydney in July revealed the cost of leaving domestic and family violence has risen by 71% in past decade, revealing far more investment is needed.
“The decision to leave is not only a safety question, but a financial one, and the compounding impact of rising costs of housing, childcare, transport and everyday essentials are making this harder,” Ms Dunlop said.
“Anglicare Sydney found the cost to leave domestic and family violence rose 71% in 10 years, so while disappointing, it is not surprising to see the Commission report unmet accommodation has risen from 10% to nearly 25% in the same period or that persistent homelessness is now at its highest level.
“The Yearly Report confirms what we see on the front-line every day and reinforces we must continue to grow investment in all areas: prevention, early intervention, crisis support, and recovery.”
Ms Dunlop said the Albanese Government’s investment in housing and making the Leaving Violence payment permanent were important but called on the government to go further.
“Anglicare Sydney’s research revealed it costs on average $7,017 to leave a violent home. That is why the Leaving Violence Allowance must be raised from $5,000 to $7,000, and future increases must be indexed to CPI to ensure the allowance keeps pace with cost of living,”
“The Commission also revealed almost one in four people who need specialist housing services are being turned away, because the supply is simply not there.”
Anglicare Sydney is calling for urgent expansion in housing responses including:
- funding 3,000 additional long-term social and affordable homes each year for people leaving violence.
- extending the Housing Australia Future Fund Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program.
- expanding transitional and long-term housing options.
- establishing priority social housing pathways for victim-survivors..
“We must not forget that behind every number in this report, every news story we see, are real people who are trying to reach safety,” Ms Dunlop said.
“It is incumbent upon us to do more and we implore the Government to use December’s MYEFO to make meaningful change for people leaving family and domestic violence.”
