From violence to sanctuary: The charity helping families rebuild

Victim survivors of domestic and family violence are often pushed into homelessness, and at the same time, Australia’s housing crisis is making it harder to leave abusive situations.Escaping abuse often means leaving with no belongings, and starting from scratch in a new home can be incredibly expensive.Friends with Dignity is helping to bridge that gap by turning empty accommodation into a genuine, fully furnished home for victim-survivors.“People that are affected by domestic and family violence tend to leave with pretty much just the clothes on their back,” Friends with Dignity chief operating officer Philip Jackson said.“For us, to help them set themselves up, and not have to worry about that financial burden… which does cost thousands of dollars, it helps them to start again with dignity and that hope that things are going to get better.”The statistics around domestic violence and homelessness in Australia are staggering.One in four women and one in 14 men have experienced violence from a partner since the age of 15.On average, one woman is killed every 11 days by an intimate partner. Intended or actual separation remains one of the highest risk factors.Friends with Dignity pr...