Rapid Rehousing Pilot to house women and children leaving refuges

News story
Zonta House Refuge Association has been awarded a contract to assist Western Australian women and children fleeing family and domestic violence to secure a safe place to call home.
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Four female members of Zonta House Refuge Association, standing in front of a Zonta House pull up banner.

The two-year Rapid Rehousing Pilot for Women and Children initiative will support eligible women, with or without children, to leave refuges and secure tenancies in the private rental market. It will provide up to 40 women a year with assistance packages, including a contribution toward the bond and a rental subsidy of $400 per week for 20 weeks.

The Pilot is designed to help participants to avoid homelessness or a return to the perpetrator of their abuse. It will provide a financial safety net which will allow participants to retain more disposable income to assist them to build independent, stable lives.

A second initiative, the Rapid Rehousing Pilot for Aboriginal Women and Children, will be rolled out later this year. This focused pilot will assist Aboriginal women and children due to them being significantly overrepresented in experiencing family and domestic violence and homelessness.

Funding of $4.3 million has been allocated to these pilots, which form part of an election commitment to implement the $29.5 million Safe Home Safe Family package of new responses to family and domestic violence.