MORE crisis housing for women and children fleeing family violence will be established in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
The federal government has distributed $100 million across 42 organisations to purchase housing for women and children impacted by family violence and older women at risk of homelessness. Women’s Community Shelters Limited have received money to buy three houses across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea said “42 organisations across the country will be funded to deliver hundreds of new crisis and emergency homes, including right here in Dunkley, resulting in more women and children having secure accommodation when they need it most.” “Family and domestic violence is a scourge on our society,” Belyea said. “Labor knows that having a safe place to go can be the difference between leaving a violent relationship or staying. That’s what these projects are about – empowering some of the most vulnerable people in our community with a safe place to go.”
Around five domestic violence cases are reported on average each day in the Frankston local government area. Last month, Frankston councillors agreed to write to state MPs Paul Edbrooke and Vicki Ward and federal MPs Belyea and Justine Elliot to “seek state intervention” and “seek federal intervention in areas of Dunkley with pronounced cases of family violence”.
“In the above correspondence, council is to highlight that it was unsuccessful in its recent grant application to the state government, for $212,500 over 3 years under the Free From Violence Local Government Grant Program 2024-2027. Had council been successful in the application, these funds would have been used to enable deeper engagement with communities of concern and for future program delivery,” the council motion read. (“Calls for family violence intervention” The Times 4/2/2025)
Anyone experiencing family violence can call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
First published in the Frankston Times – 11 February 2025