A domestic violence survivor and mother in far north western Australia says more long-term housing is urgently needed for women and children fleeing abuse.
Yawuru woman Kristy Bennell was born in Broome but lived in Perth until a serious domestic violence incident led her to flee back home with her three young daughters.
"I was frightened and scared for my life, as anyone fleeing domestic violence [is]," Ms Bennell said.
"It is hell."
Having exceeded her limit at a short-stay facility, Ms Bennell is now "stuck in limbo", facing the prospect of either living in her car or moving states with her children.
"I'm worried for myself and my daughters' health and wellbeing," Ms Bennell said.
"I've been through a lot, so have my three daughters and we just want to live happy and free."
Four-year wait Despite being on a priority waitlist for Department of Communities housing, she was told the wait would be around four years.
Earlier this year the ABC reported the average wait time for public housing in Broome was 235 weeks.
Current figures show there are more than 1,000 applications for public housing in the Kimberley, with 643 of those applications for a place in the Broome preference zone, an increase from previous figures reported by the ABC last year.
In Broome, currently 126 are on a "priority list" like Ms Bennell.
The lack of housing options makes Ms Bennell feel "sick to [her] stomach".
"I just don't know what to do, I feel tired, overwhelmed, frustrated. I just want to get my voice heard," she said.
"I know accommodation is the main [way] to sustain your future and your goals, to live a happy healthy life but there is no support in place."
Changing the narrative The Kimberley has the highest rates of domestic violence in the state, with over 2,000 reported family assault offences and 467 breaches of a family violence restraint order this year alone.
In June 2022, the WA government announced a Family and Domestic Violence One Stop Hub in Broome, aimed at assisting victims to access a range of support services.
It was originally planned to open in late 2023, but the project has been delayed.
How we worked on and fact checked this story: Ms Bennell gave us permission to share her story, and chose to be identified to shed light on her situation. We examined court documents and emails to verify and cross-check Ms Bennell's story. ABC Kimberley approached the the Department of Communities to obtain statistics and information pertinent to Ms Bennell's situation. Centacare Housing and Homelessness team leader Deidre Leichleitner said many people experiencing or facing homelessness in Broome had travelled to the town to find refuge from violence.
"Whether that is domestic violence, family violence, sexual violence, social violence, they come to find refuge in Broome [as] the largest populated town, most serviced town," she said.
"Nearly every third person coming through the doors [is] looking for somewhere safe to stay."
She would like to see more support in place, such as an urgent night shelter in Broome.
"When people do speak of homeless people it's always painted as an ugly picture. We need to change the narrative around it," Ms Leichleitner said.
"These are human beings who have had careers, who have had a life before they have been suppressed or broken down.
"At the moment they're broken people who need support and we as a community we can't keep pushing them aside."
Ms Leichleitner said she often saw families separated due to an inability to access housing.
"[The] majority of these families end up under Department of Child Protection, they get separated, there's disconnection," she said.
It's a fear that Ms Bennell now has.
"There needs to be more support to help women with kids fleeing DV that want to better their lives and sustain a comfortable safe environment, without being stuck in limbo with all the organisations that are meant to help you," she said.
"Just listen to mothers who are fleeing domestic violence with children — enough is enough, we're trying to get our voices heard and no-one seems to help."
A Department of Communities spokesperson confirmed Ms Bennell was approved for priority access to the public housing waitlist.
"Communities is unable to prioritise this list further as this may disadvantage other applicants waiting for accommodation," they said.
Story By: AP
Original Story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-27/domestic-violence-survivor-faces-homelessness-housing-crisis/104386120?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
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