Across the state, lack of access to crisis accommodation and affordable long-term housing are two of the many barriers that victim survivors face when trying to leave violent situations and be safe. The lack of appropriate, affordable housing options means that when victim survivors are unable to safely stay in their own homes, there are very few alternative affordable housing options in the private sector.

In this submission, Safe and Equal recommends the Victorian Government:

• Commit to increasing the amount of social housing in Victoria to meet the national average at a bare minimum and put in place a strategy to achieve this.
• Commit to doubling specialist family violence refuge capacity to at least 340 households, to reduce reliance on inappropriate motel accommodation for victim survivors in crisis.