DOMESTIC violence is the single biggest driver of homelessness for Australian women and children, according to a new report.
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Homelessness Australia reported recently that 423 people were turned away from homelessness services every night, and at least 2800 women fleeing domestic violence were turned away each year.
Homelessness Australia CEO Glenda Stevens said women trying to escape domestic violence were "at greater risk of being killed" and without full funding for specialist services - such as women's refuges - "women's lives will remain at risk".
The Lake Illawarra LAC is one of the top three commands in NSW with the highest callout rate for domestic violence incidents, alongside Shoalhaven and Blacktown.
Currently, the only speciality domestic violence crisis housing servics in the area is the Warilla Women's Refuge, which is managed by Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI). Other support services are Warilla Women's Health Centre and Family Services Illawarra (FSI).
A month ago, the state government closed Lake Illawarra Family Violence Support Service (LIFVSS) - a crisis domestic violence police support service.
FSI's early intervention services manager Samantha Lukey said many of their clients struggled to find safe, affordable housing here, making it more difficult for women escaping violence.
"Affordable and secure housing is a huge issue for most of our client population," she said.
"Most domestic violence services do stop at the (Windang) bridge and there are very few domestic violence services specifically for this area."
Domestic Violence NSW CEO Moo Baulch said a survey of government-funded NSW specialist homelessness services (refuges) found 39.25 per cent were "full all the time", 45.79 per cent were "full a lot of the time" and 81 per cent had problems with Rapid Rehousing because of a lack of affordable housing options.
Ms Baulch said this region was "under intense pressure" and services were stretched.
"We need a range of safe housing options for women and children escaping domestic violence in the area in conjunction with well-resourced specialist support services," Ms Baulch said.
The NSW Budget announcement on June 23 confirmed $148.5 million would be invested into a range of domestic violence services including expansions of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program into four new locations as well as four new sites for the Safer Pathway reform.
NSW is also in line to pilot the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward could not confirm whether any of these services would flow into Lake Illawarra, but said: "The NSW Government will spend $10 million supporting homelessness services in the Illawarra Shoalhaven district this year" - eight of which assist women escaping domestic and family violence.
The spokesperson also said NSW Family and Community Housing offered the Start Safety program - which will receive a $10.4 million boost - where women escaping domestic violence can receive "generous rental assistance in the private market".
The 2015 budget package also included 24 new specialist domestic violence police positions. Placement of officers would be at the discretion of the NSW Police Force on a needs basis.
Illawarra Forum CEO Nicky Sloan welcomed the funding, but urged the government to ensure the Illawarra received some of the money and to take a longer term approach.
