Domestic and family violence is a major driver of homelessness in Australia - particularly for women and their children. This position paper draws attention to the intersections between these issues, considers the evidence and puts forward recommendations for change. The best way of preventing homelessness as a result of domestic and family violence is to prevent the violence from occurring in the first place. This requires cultural and systemic change to change individual and community attitudes on gender and violence.

View the full report on the Mission Australia website

Domestic and family violence is a major driver of homelessness in Australia – particularly for women and their children. This position paper draws attention to the intersections between these issues, considers the evidence and puts forward recommendations for change.

The best way of preventing homelessness as a result of domestic and family violence is to prevent the violence from occurring in the first place. This requires cultural and systemic change to change individual and community attitudes on gender and violence.

When domestic and family violence does occur, it is important that the safety, recovery and wellbeing of those who have experienced domestic and family violence is supported and repeat violence is prevented through integrated services.

Responses that seek to prevent homelessness or intervene early for those who have experienced domestic and family violence are also required. This includes the expansion of safe at home programs and rapid rehousing options through a housing first model for victim-survivors who cannot or choose not to stay at home.

Alcohol and other drug use and domestic and family violence Alcohol and drugs are commonly present during incidents of domestic violence. In the ABS 2012 Personal Safety Survey an estimated 53% of women who experienced some form of physical assault by a male reported that alcohol or drugs had been involved. Domestic and family violence offending among methamphetamine users is at least three times more common than among nonusers, with a substantially higher likelihood among psychotic users.

Numerous bodies have highlighted the need to provide holistic supports, given the high prevalence of domestic and family violence within the population receiving alcohol and drug related treatments However, it is important to note that domestic and family violence is not always associated with alcohol consumption, nor is alcohol consumption always associated with domestic and family violence. The use of alcohol is associated with 50% of domestic assaults reported to police in Australia, 41 and of the clients receiving Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) support in 2017-18 who had experienced domestic and family violence, only 11.1% also reported problematic drug and/or alcohol use. (P14)

There is not one simple answer and we need to work across sectors and silos, fund adequately and holistically and sustain the light of public attention to ensure that we prevent and address both violence and homelessness in the future.