Housing project to help domestic violence survivors secure rental

Housing project helps domestic violence victim-survivors enter rental market In short: A purpose-built unit complex for domestic violence victim-survivors has been completed. Families can lease the townhouses at a significantly reduced rate for up to two years. What's next? SunnyKids hopes the model can be replicated in other locations. Kathleen Hope has been working with domestic violence victim-survivors for 15years and is acutely aware of how hard it can be for them to start again. "The barriers are limitless, but right now we have a housing affordability and availability crisis, plus the costs here on the Sunshine Coast are extraordinary," the SunnyKids CEO said. "When you have to start from scratch, when everything you have built up in your life is gone, you're dealing with your trauma and your children are dealing with trauma … finding a rental under those conditions is absolutely impossible." But now there is a much-needed lifeline in the Queensland charity's transitional housing project. Six townhouses have been built and will be available for women and their children to lease at a significantly reduced rate, with no rental history required. "We're putting safety nets around these families who leave our emergency high-security refuge. We're looking at anywhere from six months to two years [lease]," Ms Hope said. "The house is fully furnished, right down to the bed linen and face washers. We really want this to be a fresh start for those who have been through way too much. "Ninety per cent of the time, they're leaving with nothing. "The cost of storing items, removalists, all things like that, is not a priority for families who are fleeing in the middle of the night because of violence they've experienced." From the ground up Funding the $6 million project has been a community effort. More than 70 Sunshine Coast businesses, tradespeople and suppliers donated their time, materials and services towards the construction of another home on the Sunshine Coast, which was then auctioned off to raise money for the build. "We've had community support, fundraising, plus private wealth and philanthropy — it's just been amazing," Ms Hope said. The land and funding for three of the townhouses were donated by Peter and Ann Smales from Firefly Education. The Sunshine Coast couple introduced SunnyKids to builder James McCartney, who was more than happy to lend a hand. "Domestic violence is a massive problem Australia-wide. We hear about it on the news. Every week another woman gets killed," Mr McCartney said. The builder said it was heartbreaking to see women and children struggle in the region's tight rental market, where the vacancy rate was less than 1 per cent, according to Real Estate Institute of Queensland figures. "I've seen women and kids sleeping just up the road, sleeping in cars. They must have an absolutely shocking life. It doesn't make you feel good," Mr McCartney said. "To move into something like this must be just unbelievable. They'd feel like they've won the lotto." Huge demand for rentals Real estate agency principal Jodi Price will manage the townhouses on behalf of SunnyKids. "This is a really good way that we can help get clients into the long-term rental market," Ms Price said. "They're having a proper rental history, routine inspections, we'll be able to provide more support and training around how to be good tenants and what expectations are in the long run." She said "affordable" rentals on the Sunshine Coast averaged $700 to $800 a week and typically attracted 30 to 50 applicants. "To be at the top of the pile of that pool is really important because owners have so much choice that you need to be able to tick every box," Ms Price said. After three years working on the project, Ms Hope said it was an "emotional day" to receive the keys for the properties, which she believed would save lives. "A lot of people will choose to stay in an unsafe environment because they don't have any other choice," she said. "We've got big plans … but this is absolutely a model that can be replicated. "This is the community really putting their money where their mouth is and jumping on board."