Every year, thousands of women and children make the courageous choice to leave abusive homes. But too many find there’s no safe place waiting for them. Domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia. At the very moment they make the decision to leave – often the most dangerous point – the system that should protect them is under‑resourced, overstretched, and unable to meet the scale of demand
The Size of the Gap
The statistics paint a confronting picture. In 2020‑21, more than 116,000 people sought help from homelessness services in Australia because of domestic or family violence. Of those, 57.1% required accommodation, but more than a third (36.6%) could not be provided with it. This unmet demand forces thousands of women and children into unsafe or unstable situations, including sleeping rough, staying in cars, couch surfing, or returning to abusive environments simply because they have nowhere safe to go.
This crisis is compounded by a lack of available housing stock and skyrocketing rental prices, which make it almost impossible for many survivors to find safe, affordable housing even in the short term. Specialist services across the country consistently report that they are full, with long waiting lists and little capacity to respond to the growing need.
Why the First Few Days Matter Most
Leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous time for a survivor. Research shows that the risk of violence, stalking, and even homicide increases significantly immediately after a woman leaves. Having somewhere safe to go can be the difference between life and death. Yet in Australia, the number of available crisis beds and emergency housing options falls far short of the need.
What Support Currently Exists
There are services across the country working tirelessly to provide emergency accommodation and support, including crisis refuges, transitional housing programs, and government‑funded community housing initiatives. Examples include:
- Specialist refuges that offer secure, short‑term accommodation with wraparound support services.
- Transitional housing programs such as “Transitional Housing Plus,” which provide medium‑term subsidised housing for survivors and their children.
- Partnerships between charities and landlords to prioritise rental properties for women escaping violence.
- Government‑run emergency accommodation and housing assistance schemes.
- Access to public and community housing via priority pathways, noting long waitlists in many regions.
These services are essential, but they are underfunded and unable to meet the overwhelming demand. Many survivors are turned away every day due to a lack of space. Others face long waiting times for community housing, often with little support in the meantime.
Our Role in Closing the Gap
At North Star Foundation, we believe that no woman or child should ever have to choose between violence and homelessness. Our mission is to build and maintain purpose‑built, fully furnished emergency homes across Australia. We create safe and affordable spaces where families can rest, regroup, and begin to rebuild their lives with dignity.
By 2030, our goal is to build 100 homes, providing over 36,000 nights of safety every year and supporting more than 500 families annually. We know that this alone won’t solve the crisis, as the need is far greater than we can meet on our own, but each home we build represents a lifeline for the people who walk through its doors.
We are proud to be part of the solution, but we are also deeply aware of how much more needs to be done. Ending the emergency housing crisis will require a coordinated effort between government, community organisations, corporate partners, and everyday Australians.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2022–23. 2023. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-22-23
Council to Homeless Persons (CHP). Homelessness and Domestic and Family Violence. 2022. Available at: https://chp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Homelessness-and-Domestic-and-Family-Violence.pdf
ABC News. How Australia’s housing crisis is making it harder to escape domestic violence. 2025. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-05/how-rents-and-housing-crisis-impact-domestic-violence/104737696
Emerge Support. Refuge and Crisis Accommodation. n.d. Available at: https://emergesupport.org.au/services/refuge-and-crisis/
Women’s Housing Company (NSW). Transitional Housing Plus. n.d. Available at: https://www.womenshousingcompany.org.au/applicants/transitional-housing-plus/
Mission Australia. Innovative housing response for women experiencing domestic and family violence – The Priority Project. 2023. Available at: https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/stories/safe-homes/innovative-housing-response-for-women-experiencing-domestic-and-family-violence-the-priority-project
NSW Government. Housing Help for People Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence. n.d. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/social-affordable/emergency-housing/housing-help-dfv
AHURI – Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. Housing, homelessness and domestic and family violence (Brief). 2023. Available at: https://www.ahuri.edu.au/analysis/brief/housing-homelessness-and-domestic-and-family-violence