“Housing is life changing,” says Andrew Stuart from Neami National. “Stable accommodation changes the lives of the families we work with.”
In South Australia, Neami’s Women’s Safety and Crisis Services (Safe and Secure Housing) help 150 families each year. The service began in 2021 in response to the escalated rates of domestic violence resulting in homelessness during the Covid pandemic.
The service supports single women and families fleeing domestic violence using a relational approach, with an ultimate goal to address the challenges these women and families face in finding long-term stable housing.
“We generally see families who are significantly disadvantaged financially as a result of domestic violence,” Andrew explains.
“They have had to give up their family home, give up their employment, give up study. They’ve had to leave all their possessions behind and are rebuilding from scratch when they come to our service.
“Every family we work with is unique,” Andrew continues.
“We help them with anything from looking for employment to returning to study to post-tenancy support – really anything that's going to increase their financial security and opportunity to move into a long-term home and start afresh. Most of the women we help have children and for those who have larger families, housing availability is almost non-existent.”
Breaking the cycle of debt
Many of the families Neami helps are living on the poverty line, trapped in a cycle of debt.
“Many families are living pay check to pay check, struggling to pay rent and utilities and the cycle of debt just gets out of control, with people taking out loans and credit card debts to pay for utilities and rent arrears and things like that,” Andrew explains.
Modest financial assistance delivered at the right time can make an enormous impact. Financial support that covers the cost of work-ready activities like background checks can remove barriers to workforce re-entry, Andrew says.
“A lot of people have the work experience and the qualification, but just need to update their police check or complete a first aid course or get a basic certificate so they can return to work,” he says. “It seems like something quite simple, but it goes a long way.”
To illustrate the point, Andrew recalls another recent example in which a woman who had fled domestic violence and was living pay check to pay check, was unable to continue her studies due to unpaid TAFE fees.
The unpaid fees had been handed to a collection agency, compounding the young woman’s distress.
When Neami learned of her situation, Andrew’s team reached out to The Wyatt Trust.
“We contacted Wyatt, to see if they could provide some financial assistance to reduce that debt,” Andrew explains. “Wyatt paid a portion and the young woman paid a portion and she went on to complete her studies.
“She is now employed and has secure housing, so even though it might seem like $500 doesn't go a long way, it can be the difference that helps people pull themselves out of the cycle of debt.
“That’s something that’s unique about Wyatt. Nobody else does what they do.”
One of the greatest areas of need Andrew sees is the high number of families that have fled violent homes and are now stuck in emergency accommodation.
“Some of these families have been in very basic motel accommodation for over six months. These are families with school aged children who have a microwave and a kettle in the room and that’s it. They’re washing clothes in bathtubs and showers. It’s not possible for them to thrive – it just doesn’t work.
“Unfortunately, this is part of the reason why there is a high rate of people returning home because it gets to the point where going back to the place where the perpetrator is seems a better option than ongoing emergency accommodation.”
Neami has now helped 180 South Australian families secure long-term housing through the program.
“We hear over and over again how important the relationship we have with them is,” Andrew says. “How valuable it is for these families to feel supported and understood. When they feel listened to, it helps them know that they aren’t alone.
“The relationship and the journey really matter when it comes to holding onto hope.”
