Mission Australia’s Post

We are not a family violence service, but each day we work with the women, children and young people suffering from its impact.  Family and domestic violence is the main driver of homelessness for women and children. Women and children escaping violence need a safe place to call home, and they need someone to walk alongside them as they recover, rebuild and start a new life.   Alongside our partners, with support from generous donors and the Victorian Government, we operate six different residential buildings providing crisis support or long-term housing for women and children, collectively housing more than 200 women and children each night including:   ✔️Viv’s Place, Australia’s first long-term supported housing for women and children escaping family and domestic violence   ✔️An outreach program that supports pregnant women who are experiencing homelessness   ✔️One of Melbourne's only homelessness crisis accommodation sites to accommodate and employ women only (including transgender women and gender diverse people), which also offers a range of wrap-around supports such as an alcohol and other drug worker, a mental health worker, nurse practitioner and a lawyer.   ✔️Support to mothers and babies through the Cornelia Program, providing 12-months supported housing and maternal and child health care.    We need to invest in more of these solutions that we know work: Supported, safe and appropriate housing designed for women and their children with all the wrap-around services they need. Read more here:

Edinburgh is facing a housing emergency, with 3,749 households living in temporary accommodation as of September 2023. Our first Scottish housing partner, Cyrenians is trying to tackle this issue, and their recently published impact report showcases their work in this area. A section of their report includes their partnership with Resonance and Patron Capital’s Women in Safe Homes fund, which will buy and refurbish 30 properties for women who have experienced domestic abuse and homelessness. This will provide safe homes for around 200 women & children over the fund’s lifetime. To learn more about Cyrenians’ impactful work, check out their 2024 impact report here: https://ow.ly/zlHx50SRNRl and to dive deeper into their partnership with the Women in Safe Homes fund, click here: https://lnkd.in/eqfXwMMi #EdinburghHousingCrisis #HousingEmergency #DomesticAbuseSupport #HomelessnessSolution #ImpactfulPartnerships #SupportingWomen

Cloudburst’s Suzanne Marcus, Gender-Based Violence and Housing Specialist, and Ashley M., Technical Assistance Provider, joined forces this week to stand in solidarity with Health Care for the Homeless, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), National Coalition for the Homeless, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and others while the Supreme Court heard opening arguments in Johnson v. Grants Pass—a case that could allow cities to criminalize unhoused people for sleeping on the streets. Homelessness has been on the rise since 2017, experiencing an overall increase of six percent. Unsheltered homelessness is also trending upwards impacting most racial, ethnic, and gender subgroups.* Resources: To learn more about Cloudburst’s work to eliminate homelessness: https://lnkd.in/gzyuXqfi To learn more about Johnson v. Grants Pass: https://lnkd.in/e3U-MmiK Sources *National Alliance to End Homelessness: https://lnkd.in/gEsHJYez

Diane Hayes-Powers, a tireless advocate for the homeless youth in Tacoma, has been named the 2024 Laureate recipient of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize. Her decades of work, which includes a stint as a United Nations World Conference Delegate Against Racism, has been instrumental in addressing the region's housing crisis. The Greater Tacoma Peace Prize recognizes individuals and institutions that promote peace, justice, and reconciliation, and Hayes-Powers' dedication to the cause has been a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable populations. Her work has focused on addressing the challenges faced by homeless youth, including systemic barriers, rising costs of living, and the impact of COVID-19. Hayes-Powers' commitment to equity and justice has been a driving force in Tacoma's government and spiritual communities, and her work has been instrumental in ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources their city provides. The wealth gap and systemic racism, according to Hayes-Powers, are key drivers of poverty and homelessness. She believes that the equitable distribution of resources is vital, and that every person deserves to benefit from the resources their city provides. Hayes-Powers acknowledges that creating change in a system entrenched with systemic racism and poverty is difficult. However, she remains hopeful that the system can be changed, and that political will is needed to address these dualities. What are your thoughts on the role of advocacy in addressing the housing crisis? Do you believe that the equitable distribution of resources is the key to addressing systemic racism and poverty?

It’s been a busy week in politics, with manifestos and policy promises galore. But overall, we’re underwhelmed by the lack of ambition to tackle the growing youth homelessness crisis and support young people in particular. We hoped for commitments to fund local authorities so that they’re better equipped to cope with rising youth homelessness levels – that's £330million a year in funding to improve assessments and support for young people facing homelessness. We wanted to see the housing crisis addressed, so young people can access affordable housing in social or private rented sectors. That means building 90,000+ social homes per year and regularly uprating local housing allowance rates. And we needed policies that improved access to employment for young people in supported accommodation – a future where they’re no longer trapped and dissuaded from work because of the systemic inequality in the benefit system. This general election is a chance for the next government to support young people to overcome the challenges created by homelessness and achieve their full potential. We’ve seen a range of promises from the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos – from ending rough sleeping and building more homes to reviewing Universal Credit and reforming apprenticeships rules. But the homelessness experienced by young people has its own unique challenges and while some attempts have been made to provide solutions to these, many pledges lack the important details needed to understand how young people specifically will benefit from these policies. Youth homelessness has risen by 12% since the last election. If you don’t want politicians to ignore the youth homelessness crisis, add your name and sign our manifesto: https://bit.ly/4cbsWh4

Family violence remains a leading cause of homelessness, especially for women and children fleeing unsafe environments. In the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions for 2023-2024, 348 women reported family violence, while 116 cited family breakdown as their main reason for seeking Beyond Housing services, accounting for 32% of all women seeking help. "Other" reasons for accessing services often include complex issues like non-domestic partner violence, sudden unemployment, or chronic health problems, highlighting the multifaceted nature of homelessness. "These ‘other’ reasons highlight the complexity and intersectionality of issues leading to homelessness among women,” said Acting CEO Penny Hargrave. Beyond Housing collaborates with The Orange Door, the Centre Against Violence, VincentCare, and NEXUS to offer comprehensive support to victim-survivors. They provide crisis and emergency housing and manage purpose-built properties for women and children escaping violence, focusing on addressing their broader needs. Read more about our efforts and Tamara's story here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gTaf3Ryg

Please join us on 9/24 from 9-11 am for our next virtual HPRI Research Symposium on LA County Women’s Needs Assessment: https://lnkd.in/gcmA5-j8 In 2020, both the City and County of Los Angeles County identified “unaccompanied” women experiencing homelessness as a unique subpopulation among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, and the County of Los Angeles commissioned a countywide women’s needs assessment. In fall 2022, nearly 600 women experiencing homelessness as individuals completed surveys intended to capture information about their experiences of homelessness, barriers to housing and shelter, and what they are looking for in housing and the homelessness response system. The 2022 Los Angeles County Women’s Needs Assessment follows seven additional reports supported by Downtown Women’s Center tracking the needs of women experiencing homelessness for the last twenty years. Please join the research experts, local leaders, and advocates of women experiencing homelessness as individuals for a conversation about the Los Angeles County Women’s Needs Assessment findings and its programmatic and policy implications. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gcmA5-j8 More info: https://lnkd.in/gzCemTAy

Last year we calculated that since 2016 there have been 17,000 individual children who experienced the trauma of homelessness in Ireland (in emergency accommodation).Today I've analysed & updated that figure to reveal that:22,000 children have experienced the trauma of being homeless in emergency accommodation since 2014.A decade of children failed in homelessness!Our research with Kenneth McSweeney last year revealed for the first time, the shocking numbers of children who have experienced the trauma of homelessness. Today, there are 3,904 children homeless nationally. We estimate that approximately 17,000 children have experienced the trauma of homelessness in emergency accommodation in Ireland since 2016. In Dublin, 12,804 unique children with their 6,759 families spent some time in emergency accommodation between 2016 to 2023.We also found a dramatic increase in the length of time families and children are being left in homelessness. The unacceptably large numbers of people being made homeless is a social catastrophe which is causing huge and deep personal human trauma to each individual experiencing it. https://lnkd.in/eKqGRB37

A recent study reveals that more children live in homelessness nationwide than in most individual states. This highlights a critical issue impacting our youngest and most vulnerable. Addressing this crisis is essential to ensure every child has a stable and safe place to call home. Learn more about the findings and what can be done to help at https://heyor.ca/8uaf2z.