Waverley Council To Boost Housing For Domestic Violence Victims

Waverley councillors have voted unanimously to double the municipality’s affordable housing units dedicated to women and families fleeing violence, from two to four.

The motion was tabled by Bondi Ward councillor Michelle Stephenson and seconded by mayor Will Nemesh from the Hunter Ward, both members of the Liberal majority.

“Allocating additional affordable housing to victim-survivors of domestic and family violence is not just good policy, it’s actually practical,” Stephenson said during the meeting of Tuesday 24 March.

“It’s preventative, and it is compassionate, because safe housing does more than provide shelter — it creates the conditions for recovery. It allows people to reconnect with work, education and support services. It helps children regain a sense of normalcy, and critically reduces the likelihood that someone returns to an unsafe environment simply because they have nowhere else to go.”

Stephenson offered her own experience as an anecdote conveying the importance of housing for domestic violence victims.

“I understand firsthand what it feels like to be in a situation where your safety is uncertain and your options feel limited, both as a child and in my 20s. And, I also understand how critical it is to have stability, a door you can close, a place where you feel safe and a foundation to begin again.”

She credited the council for increasing its affordable housing stock by 12 dwellings or 50 per cent since October 2024, “an important step” which she said her motion builds on. “It says we’re not stopping at symbolic action. We’re expanding real, tangible support.”

Mayor Nemesh said, “I don’t know of any other councils that do this in the way that we are doing it. We should be very, very proud, because it will help significantly those in need.”

A council-owned block of flats at Queens Park is currently being renovated to provide an additional six affordable dwellings. The project will result in a 75 per cent increase to the municipality’s affordable housing stock since the current term began.

Domestic violence crisis

With 97,800 individuals charged for family and domestic violence offences across Australia in 2024-25, the need for victims’ accommodation cannot be clearer.

That figure marked an increase of 7,103 or eight per cent on the year prior. There were 403 such offenders per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over.

In 2023-24, a nationwide average of one woman every eight days and one man every 41 days was killed by an intimate partner.

The New South Wales Government offers assistance to those fleeing violence.

You are not alone. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual or family violence and needs support, you can contact:

• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• LGBTQ+ Rainbow Sexual, Domestic & Family Violence Service Help Line: 1800 385 578
• NSW Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511
• Alan Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Mensline 1300789978
• Alcohol and Drug Information Service: 1800 250 015
• QLife (3pm to midnight): 1800 184 527
• 13YARN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander line) – 13 92 76