THE Bega Women’s Refuge is one of the 90 per cent of refuges across the state that is reportedly at capacity.
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However, operator Mission Australia said it does not turn away any calls for assistance, instead sourcing emergency accommodation elsewhere in the area.
Cheryl O’Donnell, Mission Australia regional leader for South East NSW, said the service places clients in alternative temporary accommodation if the refuge was at capacity, but did not say where those beds were found.
“Our team will then pick up the clients the next morning and start actively looking to find permanent accommodation,” Ms O’Donnell said.
The Bega Valley Homelessness Support Service has been running under Mission Australia since August last year.
The women’s refuge, which forms part of the suite of services offered, has been open since last Christmas after renovations were carried out.
“In the time that we have been operational, our dedicated and experienced staff have worked hard to assist 124 women to secure permanent, safe, independent housing,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“We not only support our clients to put a roof over their head, but we work with them to find any other services they need to help them stay in that accommodation and address any other issues in their lives.”
Now that women’s refuges are consolidated with generalist homelessness services under the State Government’s Going Home Staying Home reforms, Mission’s role on the South Coast is not solely assisting with domestic violence matters.
While the Bega refuge remains a women’s facility for obvious reasons, Ms O’Donnell said everyone referred to Mission’s program “is provided with full support, including assistance to secure permanent housing and any other support services they need” – including men.
“We have assisted over 80 males since starting the new program,” she said.
“We have two medium-term accommodation properties available for men, and we also have support from Sapphire Advocacy service who assist in providing accommodation to men who are referred to our program.
“Our teams then work with the men to find suitable, safe, affordable and permanent accommodation.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
Women fleeing violence left out in cold
Lisa Visentin, Sydney Morning Herald
WOMEN fleeing domestic violence in NSW are being turned away from refuges in droves more than a year after the government overhauled crisis accommodation services.
Almost 90 per cent of women's refuges in NSW are full, with one operator likening the chances of a woman getting a bed to "winning the lottery".
Across the state, there are just 350 bedrooms in 63 government-owned shelters where women fleeing domestic violence can seek refuge.
A further 12 non-government owned crisis properties also cater to domestic violence victims.
Last week, only seven refuges had vacancies.
Just one of the 58 refuges that responded to Fairfax Media inquiries said it could usually accommodate a woman fleeing domestic violence on the day she sought help.
Domestic violence is a daily occurrence, with official figures showing there were 28,870 assaults in the year to March.
This equates to almost 80 attacks reported every day, and social workers say the real figure is likely to be much higher as many assaults go unreported.
So far this year, eight women have allegedly been killed by their partners, four of whom face murder charges.
The consequences of the shortfall in emergency accommodation was writ large in January when 26-year-old Leila Alavi was allegedly murdered by her husband in an Auburn car park.
She had been turned away from refuges up to a dozen times.
With almost all of the refuges now operating under the broader remit of homelessness, women fleeing domestic violence are effectively in competition for beds with women who have different homelessness needs.
