Crisis housing for domestic violence survivors will be built in Murray Bridge

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For years, people fleeing domestic violence in the Murraylands have had help available, but nowhere to actually go and live while they rebuild their lives.

In many cases, that has meant women and children leaving their homes, schools and support networks to stay in Mount Barker or Adelaide, often on short notice.

A recent announcement will change that.

On September 3, the federal government announced it would invest $50.8 million in crisis and transitional housing across South Australia.

That will include six homes in Murray Bridge specifically for women and children escaping family violence.

Tenants will be able to stay there for up to six months.

The homes will be built by an Adelaide-based charity called Cornerstone Housing, and support services provided to tenants by mental health organisation Neami National.

Cornerstone CEO Wesley Chapman said the need for transitional housing in the Murraylands was greater than in many other parts of the state.

He hoped the six new homes would help meet that need.

“The whole idea is to give a survivor somewhere they can go that’s a safe, supported environment where they can get into a level of normality,” he said.

“Eventually (tenants will) get into social, affordable or market-rent housing because life becomes good for them, and the properties will become available for another family in need.”

The homes are expected to be built by September 2027.

Each will have three bedrooms and a few extra safety features, such as secure doors and windows.

Rather than being clumped in one place, they will be built individually around the community, making it easier for tenants to remain inconspicuous.

Homes will be offered to tenants who have gained a referral from SA Police or other local support agencies.

The government’s announcement described the homes as being for women and children; it is not clear whether they will also be accessible to the smaller number of men who need to flee unsafe situations.

In any case, federal Housing, Homelessness and Cities Minister Clare O’Neil said a home could change lives.

“It can be the difference between falling through the cracks and building a future,” she said.

State Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said everyone deserved a safe place to call home, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives from there.

Cornerstone Housing was previously involved in the Studio Purpose project, which resulted in eight one-bedroom units being built in Murray Bridge for young people with nowhere else to go.

It was also funded to build three social and three affordable homes in Murray Bridge, for people on low incomes, under an earlier round of the federal Housing Australia Future Fund.

Mr Chapman hoped to do “another couple of projects” in Murray Bridge if funding became available in future rounds of the program.

Advocates celebrate a huge win

The announcement came as a relief to anti-violence advocates, who had campaigned for years for the government to step in and provide accommodation for people fleeing unsafe situations.

The only such homes available in the Murraylands previously had been those rented out privately by well-intentioned landlords.

DVINA’s Mel McInerney was among those who welcomed the “fantastic” news.

“It gives hope to those who are still in a domestic violence situation,” she said.

“Times are tough with the cost of fuel and everything, and there would be women who (feel they) have to stay in violent situations because there’s high rents and they can’t afford to go.”

Ultramarathon runner and fundraiser Kai Martin was blown away by the “amazing” news.

“It’s about bloody time,” he said.

“I couldn't be happier (to hear that).

“I can’t understand why there isn’t (emergency accommodation) available now.”

Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley described the investment as an important one, because no level of domestic violence was acceptable.

“There needs to be accommodation for people to feel safe,” he said.

“We know there’s demand for it.”

• Get help: Visit the Haven at the Square in Murray Bridge from 10am-2pm on weekdays, or the DVINA Centre at 1 Standen Street from 10am-3pm Tuesday-Friday or 1pm on Saturdays; call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 737 732, or Murray Mallee Adelaide Hills Domestic Violence Service on 8228 8960; or, in an emergency, dial 000.