Women’s Housing
All women have the right to safe, secure, affordable housing choices.
Women’s Housing Limited (WHL) is a statewide not for profit organisation that provides low costs housing to women at risk of homelessness. Women and their children make up an increasingly large percentage of those in need of affordable housing. Those groups that are likely to experience housing stress include older women over 55 and women who are forced to leave their home because of family violence.
Since becoming a Housing Association, WHL has significantly expanded and diversified it’s housing portfolio and housing development capacity. WHL has both the capacity and experience to deliver large-scale housing projects aimed at meeting the ever-growing demand. WHL will continue to advocate for the housing needs of women and children and contribute to the growth of affordable housing stock.
WHL also provide additional services including:
Intake and assessment services for homeless women
Distributing Housing Establishment Funds to assist women experiencing a housing crisis
Housing assistance and referral to women exiting prison
Since our establishment in 1997, we’ve been listening to and validating women’s experiences, and acting as their voice in the housing sector.
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Please click on the Make a Donation logo to donate to Women’s Housing Ltd through the Give Now website.
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Opening at St Albans
On 24th January 2024, The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing, formally opened Women’s Housing Ltd’s St Albans property. The project was funded by Homes Victoria as part of $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and delivered in partnership with Women’s Housing Ltd.
The site features 53 one, two and three bedroom homes for women in need and is conveniently located close to public transport, playgrounds, schools and the St Albans shopping district. The property is designed to meet the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines and each dwelling achieves a minimum seven-star energy rating – helping residents reduce power consumption and save on bills.
“We’re continuing our work to provide housing, care and services to people most in need, including First Nations women and survivors of family violence.” The Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing.
The building was named in honour of Chloe Munro AO, a generous benefactor to Women’s Housing Ltd. Fred Backler, Chloe’s son, was present to honour Chloe’s legacy of providing safe and secure long term housing for vulnerable women.
Pictured above: The Hon. Harriet Shing, Fred Backler, Judy Line, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman
“There’s nothing more important than making sure everyone has a home, so it’s wonderful to be able to deliver housing for women who need it most, right here in St Albans.” The Hon. Natalie Suleyman, Member for St Albans.
An Award for the Women’s Justice Diversion Program
On 20 November 2023 Women’s Housing Ltd’s Women’s Justice Diversion Program (WJDP) received the Award for ending homelessness among Diverse and over-Represented Groups from Council to Homeless Persons.
The WJDP was developed in response to reports of women being refused bail and release orders due to homelessness. The Program is designed to extend housing support to homeless women on remand and reduce the likelihood of re-presentation to custody. Congratulations, Sarah Sheppard and the WJDP Team!
Women’s Housing Ltd would like to congratulate the other winners of the day and recognise the incredible work the organisations and individuals are achieving, especially those with lived experience in homelessness.
For more information on the event click here.
Let’s Discuss…
Sarah Sheppard, Women’s Services Manager, was also asked to participate in a plenary panel: the Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort 3 years on. WHL represented the mainstream access and entry points on the panel as one of many agencies on the Blueprint Steering Committee for the formation of an Aboriginal Entry Point system.
Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort is the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework and it translates to ‘Every Aboriginal Person has a home’ in Gunditijmara language.
Also on the panel was Darren Smith at AHVIC and Jason, an Aboriginal man with lived experience.
For more information on the Blueprint Steering Committee click here.
Big Housing Build Project
As part of the Victorian State Government’s “Big Housing Build”, the first round of funding from Homes Victoria saw a total of $738 million invested in 89 projects across the state. WHL was successful in winning funding for 309 new social housing dwellings spread over 13 projects, and work on the projects is progressing.
The dwellings are designed to house women and children in need of a safe place to call home, and will target women and children escaping domestic violence and older women, with 10% of the new homes allocated to Aboriginal Victorians. It’s anticipated that some very happy new tenants will be given the keys to their homes by the end of 2023.