Family violence support

SUSTAINABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR WOMEN

Women's Health West hosts a range of services for women and children in the Western Metropolitan Region affected by family and domestic violence. Contact us via email or on the numbers below for information and referral to a wide range of services.

Among the programs offered by Women's Health West are: a CALD Housing Program and Private Rental Brokerage. Both programs aim to provide sustainable housing options for women and children affected by family and domestic violence.

Private Rental Brokerage

The Private Rental Brokerage program aims to help women maintain private rental housing in the Western Region. The scheme includes a limited rental subsidy, along with information and referral to obtain supports needed to ensure women are able to maintain their rental once the subsidy finishes. You may be eligible for assistance through the Private Rental Brokerage Program if you meet the criteria listed below.

Before being considered for the Program you will first be required to discuss your options and situation with a FV intake worker and complete an assessment. The brokerage is provided to sustain independent and safe accommodation over a period of time and cannot be used for bond, rent in arrears (if you owe rent) or rent in advance. The other criteria are:

You have recently left a situation of family violence;
You do not spend more than 55% of your income on rent;
You want support to recover from the family violence you have experienced.

CALD Crisis Housing

The CALD Crisis Housing Service aims to support women of Culturally and Linquistically Diverse Backgounds and has access to limited Crisis and Transistional properties that women and children escaping family violence can stay in for a short period. During your stay, you are supported by a CALD Crisis Housing Worker. If these houses are occupied, she will help you find other housing, and can speak with other services on your behalf.

These are some other ways the Worker can support you and your children, for example:

Emotional support and counselling.
Information about your options.
Working with you to help make you and your children safe.
Court support. This includes applying for a court order that requires the person who is hurting you or your children to leave the home and/or stay away from you.
Linking you to many services that can help. If you want, she can speak to these services on your behalf.
Helping you find medium and long-term safe housing for you and your children, and supporting them to move.

If your first language is not English, the Worker can use an interpreter, and may sometimes be able to help you find other support services in your own language.

The CALD Crisis Housing Worker can also provide information about housing options to other services who work with culturally and linguistically diverse women and children who may be experiencing family violence.

HOW TO CONTACT THESE PROGRAMS

You can contact Women's Health West at any time for information and referral to these programs and a range of other support services.

Send us a confidential email.
Call us for information and referral during business hours on 9689 9588.
If you need support outside business hours, call 9373 0123 or 1800 015 188.
If you need an interpreter, first call the Telephone Interpreter Service (24 hours) on 131 450. They will connect you with the service you want

FIND OUT MORE about specific services to which Women's Health West can refer women and children affected by family violence.

FIND OUT MORE about other services available in the Western Region and beyond through our Community Directory.