Safety boost for women and children in crisis

CONSTRUCTION has commenced at an undisclosed Bendigo location of three new Haven Home Safe townhouses, which are planned to provide eighteen safe places for women and their children every year.

The works, which are due to be finished by the end of May next year with the first tenants anticipated to move in the following August, are being delivered through the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation program via a $2.5 million investment from the Federal Government.

The $175.1 million program provides emergency accommodation across Australia via 60 different projects.

Projects typically involve the renovation, building or purchase of crisis or emergency accommodation places for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.

Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said family and domestic violence is a scourge that impacts too many women and children, and having a safe place to go can be the difference between staying in a violent relationship and leaving it.

“That’s why the (Federal) Government is investing so much in crisis and transitional accommodation like this project,” she said.

“This project will help ensure that more women and children experiencing family and domestic violence locally have a safe place to go and don’t have to choose between housing and their safety.”

Haven Home Safe is a not-for-profit community and affordable housing provider, offering integrated rental housing and homelessness support across Victoria.

If you’re experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, you can contact Haven on 1300 428 364, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.