Australia’s housing and rental crisis is making it harder for people to leave domestic violence, as safe and affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce.
Domestic violence services report rising demand for emergency accommodation, longer-term housing support and rental assistance amid low vacancy rates and cost-of-living pressures.
Women with children are particularly affected, facing financial pressure and limited housing options, with research highlighting safe housing as critical to recovery.
Domestic violence survivor Joanne Thorne says securing safe and affordable housing after leaving abuse was one of the most significant challenges she faced.
“Safe Steps said to me I needed to look somewhere else to live and I didn’t want to do that because, when you start exploring that, where do you actually go in those circumstances,” Ms Thorne said.
Advocates warn without greater investment in crisis and social housing, more people risk remaining in unsafe homes as affordability worsens.
“How do you get into the rental market when it’s so difficult at the moment? If you’ve left that situation and are seeking safety, the processes involved are definitely a deterrent for people leaving,” Ms Thorne said.
As Australia’s cost-of-living pressures continue, housing affordability is increasingly being framed as a safety issue, not just an economic one.
