Christine Mikhael (left) and Annabelle Daniel after the funding announcement.
Support for women and children escaping domestic violence is at a level of “critical” demand, with more victims being turned away than accepted over the last year, according to Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM.
“Over the 15 years that I’ve been involved in this sector, data reflects that one in two women in need of support are turned away, Ms Daniel said. “But over the last year, I can tell you it’s closer to two in three.”
Women’s Community Shelters recently transformed an under-utilised Sydney site into “meanwhile” accommodation for more than 100 people, but capacity was quickly swallowed up.
“It’s no surprise our site is already full only a couple of months after opening,” Ms Daniel said. “Services for people leaving domestic violence are at a critical need.”
Ms Daniel’s comments came as Women’s Community Shelters were granted $400,000 in funding from A Home For All Foundation, an organisation led by the property industry and backed by REA Group.
MORE:Outrageous reason renter given eviction notice
Annabelle Daniel (left) said demand for support is “critical”.
The foundation has an ambitious “ultimate goal to end homelessness”, and while the work is just beginning, the first year has yielded a strong result, according to advisory committee chair Christine Mikhael, who is also CEO of LJ Hooker Group.
After raising more than $1 million during its inaugural A Night Without Home campaign in 2025, the foundation is “setting its sights on bigger goals for the future,” Ms Mikhael said.
The first step forward has been to distribute the funds raised. First, the foundation chose the theme of helping victims of domestic violence experiencing homelessness and then invited organisations to apply for a share of the funds raised.
“We decided to allocate $400,000 to a major recipient and then $200,000 to three others,” Ms Mikhael said. “We thought that would be a way to get a significant impact and a spread that covers (the wider) Australia, plus some grassroots local organisations too.”
From 30 applications, a shortlist of 10 were chosen.
“The tough part was that every single submission was worthy of the grants, which shows that there’s a lot more work to be done,” Ms Mikhael said.
MORE:Aus households to be hit with $2k cost crunch
In addition to the $400,000 for Women’s Community Shelters (NSW based), $200,000 each will be distributed to Justice Connect (Victoria), Friends With Dignity (Qld) and Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia (WoSSCA), based in the NT.
Ms Daniel said the $400,000 would allow Women’s Community Shelters to provide support staff for women and children at their new location and also to activate a community hub.
“We want to stop women and children going into sub standard motel accommodation and rather give them a beautiful, supportive, community environment.
“It’s the difference between having nowhere to go, and walking through the door to a welcoming home where you are safe, supported, and given the chance to start again.”
Meanwhile, Justice Connect will use its $200,000 to fund an additional social worker and an engagement and training program nationally, in its ongoing efforts to prevent homelessness for women and children.
MORE: Why we’re to blame for rate hikes
Justice Connect are working to prevent homelessness for women and children.
Friends With Dignity’s funds will support the transformation of empty properties into fully furnished homes, providing essential items within 48 hours, and supporting children with school items and scholarships.
Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia will expand wrap‑around services and alternative accommodation, helping more women and children move from crisis beds into safe, longer‑term housing.
REA Group Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Kul Singh, said the funding would “help create additional safe places to stay, keep women and children in secure housing, provide legal and social work support, rapidly set up furnished homes, and extend wrap‑around services beyond crisis accommodation”.
“REA believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We know there is more work to be done, and we’re committed to backing the Foundation and partnering with the industry to bolster the support of those impacted by homelessness,” Mr Singh said.
Learn more about the Foundation and its 2026 charity partners.
English (US) · 