Enhanced DFV Housing Response
Responsible government
- Queensland
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Improve support and service system responses
- 20 Improve access to suitable and safe accommodation within their communities for women who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence.
What are we doing?
Queensland has delivered an enhanced housing response for individuals experiencing domestic and family violence, which is person-centred and responsive to housing and support needs through coordinated referrals, assistance and services.
What have we achieved so far?
Key achievements include:
- Improved frontline housing service delivery capacity and capability to respond to customers experiencing domestic and family violence through state-wide training and pathway planning.
- Delivery of projects to address barriers facing victims of domestic and family violence when seeking or leaving private rental accommodation, including domestic and family violence toolkits regarding tenancy laws.
- Implementation of new staff support tools and new information systems to enable more timely and appropriate responses and improved data reporting.
- Delivery of a more person-centred and holistic intake and assessment process through the implementation of tailored pathway planning to ensure timely and appropriate services access to services and support are provided to meet individuals’ needs
- Introducing targeted headlease product for women and their children displaced from their homes due to domestic and family violence and facing barriers and challenges securing alternate housing. As at 30 June 2021, 58 families have been assisted to secure private rental accommodation through head lease arrangements.
- Introducing the Affordable Housing for Women Experiencing DFV initiative enabling up to 65 households to access head leased accommodation with specialist support services in South East Queensland, increasing the transition of women experiencing DFV from crisis accommodation
- Continuing to deliver Flexible Assistance Package introduced in July 2020 to assist women and children experiencing domestic and family violence to purchase goods and services to meet immediate needs to access or sustain housing. Between July 2020 and 30 June 2021, 221 families were assisted to access a range of products and services including, removals and relocation costs, emergency accommodation and white goods.
- In 2020-21 delivery of a Trauma-informed Care Learning program and online refresher domestic and family violence training for the network of service delivery staff to support staff to feel confident and equipped to be able to effectively navigate each situation with empathy, sensitively and through a person-centred approach.
- In response to COVID-19 pandemic situation, provided tailored emergency accommodation to 74 women and their 64 children with immediate safety needs, and assisted all to successfully secure longer-term social, private and supported housing.
What is next?
- Through the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Second Action Plan 2021-2025, $20 million has been allocated to deliver specialised domestic and family violence housing assistance and support:
- provide additional Flexible Assistance Packages
- deliver additional head leased housing
- enhanced frontline service responses delivered through a Specialist Response Team who work directly with Housing Service Centres and rapid response Multi-agency High Risk Teams to tailor and deliver housing assistance that prioritises safety in coordination with other supports and services.
What difference will we make?
The impact of this initiative will be measured by:
- The number of people experiencing domestic and family violence whose housing needs are met
- The development and delivery of a comprehensive suite of new Specialist Domestic and Family Violence housing products to extend the options available to people.