News

Share of funds urged

A WHOLE of government approach is needed to address the shortage of emergency accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, says Cumberland City Councillor Sabrin Farooqui.

The Federal Government has promised more housing for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence from its $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund – and Cumberland wants to be one of the first to receive that support.
Cr Farooqui has called for a report on how the council could coordinate with State and Federal Governments to allocate a proportion of social housing and increase emergency accommodation for women and their children in Cumberland who have been subjected to domestic and family violence.
“When a victim of domestic violence chooses to leave their abusive partner, safe and affordable housing is one of the primary barriers they face for themselves and their children,” Cr Farooqui said.
“My experience of helping victims and survivors of domestic and family violence, says that many women remain largely responsible for raising children after a relationship ends which creates financial pressure and on the top of it, they have to pay rent or mortgage for the house which is almost impossible for them to do because they often depend on their male partners financially.
“As a result, they face the threat of homelessness and this fear stops them from leaving an abusive relationship.”
She was strongly supported by Cr Diane Colman, who said women experiencing domestic violence needed shelter without having to stay in a violent home.
“We are being on the front foot here to ensure Cumberland gets its fair share of the $1.7 billion allocated to women under the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund policy,” she said.
A move by Councillors Eddy Sarkis and Steve Christou – who said they recognised the need – called for men who have been a victim of domestic violence to be included, was defeated.
“Where do men go?” they asked, “they also suffer domestic violence”.