The Safe Places Grant Program has previously provided funding towards three of the state’s women’s shelters. The shelters are currently funded by Homes Tasmania, which provided nearly $5.4 million capital funding to the projects.

The Launceston Women’s Shelter received a grant of $1.9 million, plus $4 million through Homes Tasmania, for expansion works.

Jireh House received $404 219, plus $469 533 through Homes Tasmania, for the purchase of land with an existing house and construction of another three-bedroom house on the same property.

McCombe House received funding of $1.65 million, plus $900 000 through Homes Tasmania, which will be used to extend their current service to women escaping family violence by building six two and three-bedroom units.

The total funding provided to these projects through the grant program was $3 954 219 from the Australian Government and $5 369 533 from Homes Tasmania.

Family and domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and children.

As part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032, the Australian Government committed $100 million over five years (2022-23 to 2026-27) to continue the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program through the Safe Places Inclusion Round (the Inclusion Round). The Inclusion Round will increase the number of new and appropriate emergency accommodation places for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.

The Inclusion Round will focus on improving access to appropriate emergency accommodation for:

• First Nations women and children
• Women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and
• Women and children with disability.

Grants will enable the building, purchase or renovation of new emergency accommodation for women and children leaving family and domestic violence.

For more information, visit: GrantConnect or Safe Places Emergency Accommodation Program.