Collaboration for National Rehousing Program
19 December 2014 at 9:39 am
Victorian-based Housing and homelessness provider, HomeGround Services has joined forces with online property group, realestate.com.au to establish a national rehousing program.
Up to 300 women and children escaping family violence are expected to benefit from the collaboration between HomeGround Services and REA Group, the operator of realestate.com.au.
The collaboration was announced with the support of anti-family violence campaigner Rosie Batty highlighting that Christmas is a period when the cases of family violence and the number of deaths it causes are at their highest in Australia.
In March 2014 HomeGround opened a Not for Profit real estate agency offering property and tenancy management services to investors and socially minded property owners.
“The support of realestate.com.au will enable the establishment of a new national Rapid Rehousing Fund,” HomeGround Services CEO, Dr Heather Holst said.
“The initiative will divert women and children away from homelessness and into housing that is safe, secure, affordable and permanent.
“This is part of a $3 million wider commitment from realestate.com.au to combat homelessness in Australia.
“Domestic and family violence remains a leading cause of homelessness. Nationally, 33 per cent of all those receiving assistance from housing support agencies were escaping domestic or family violence.”
In the last 12 months in Victoria an additional 5,000 women and children came into the system due to family violence, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
“The support of realestate.com.au will increase our capacity to identify and manage more affordable housing stock to assist in alleviating and preventing homelessness. It will be of significant benefit to women and children escaping family violence with funds available to rapidly re-house these families in the private rental market,” Dr Holst said.
REA Group CEO, Tracey Fellows said; “We are fortunate to be in a position that we can contribute to this vital resource that has such an immediate and lasting impact. The support that REA Group provides will help those fleeing domestic violence to hold down jobs, continue their children’s’ education and to build a future in a safe and stable environment.”
Dr Holst said the partnership is a leading example of how community and corporate organisations in Australia can work together to create “a more caring and inclusive country where solutions to societal issues are tackled collaboratively and creatively”.
