Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins has called for more funding to crisis services after a victim of domestic violence was turned away from support agencies.
Samantha, whose name we have changed, is a 29-year-old divorced woman with a five-year-old daughter; both have spent the past three weeks homeless.
The problems began last year when Samantha had to flee her rental property because her ex-husband started stalking her.
She took out an apprehended violence order and over the past year lived in a women’s shelter, went back to Turkey, and rented a property in Delahey.
At the end of September, she was given a notice to vacate her rental property after she struggled to pay her rent and bills with her social welfare benefits.
Samantha has asked for help from a range of support services in the area, including the Salvation Army, who have only been able to help out for single nights or weekends.
On nights when she can get no help, she sleeps in a car in her friend’s garage.
She is on the waiting list for crisis accommodation.
“How can there be a waiting list when you’re in crisis? I’m on the street,” Samantha said. “I can’t rent, I can’t get public housing, I don’t know what to do.”
Ms Hutchins said she was surprised by the woman’s struggle to access services.
“There’s certainly not enough crisis accommodation, particularly for women with children,” she said.
“We really need to make sure these people are given real options.”
