Coast2Bay Housing Group is partnering with the Caloundra Zonta Club of Caloundra to raise funds for the construction of supported accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a significant issue with one in six Australian women experiencing physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner[i].
The Sunshine Coast is no stranger to domestic violence. In the 2015/16 financial year there were 2177 requests for assistance with Applications for Protection Orders, 977 counselling sessions, 86 safety upgrades to homes and 575 high risk responses by the Queensland Police Service. The rates of domestic violence occurrences are increasing in Queensland[ii].
However, accurate figures are difficult given the private nature of violence and that an estimated 80% of women and 95% of men never contact the police about violence by their current partner[iii].
Coast2Bay Housing Group and Zonta Club of Caloundra are behind this project as currently there is limited supported accommodation for domestic violence on the Sunshine Coast. This means that many women are turned away from shelters each day, as their accommodation needs cannot be met[iv].
Access to affordable and safe housing is absolutely fundamental for women escaping domestic violence and for whom their home is an unsafe place to live to re-build and re-establish their lives[v].
Please consider making a donation. Any assistance that you could provide towards this project would be generously appreciated. All donations greater than $2.00 are tax deductible.
For further information contact RiseProject@Coast2Bay.com.au
[i] Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cat 4906.0 – Personal Safety, Australia, 2012, ABS, 2013, Canberra.
[ii] Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland, Not now, not ever: putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland, Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland, 2015, Brisbane.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Tually, S., Why women and housing?, briefing paper prepared for Security4Women, Southern Research Centre, AHURI, Flinders University, 2008, Adelaide.
