Community help needed for housing solution

LISMORE, Australia - July 23, 2019 - PRLog -- A lack of affordable housing in the Richmond area has left women escaping domestic and family violence with very few long term, secure housing options.

Housing stress is a major issue in the Northern Rivers region with 13.2% of households on low incomes spending more than a third of their pay on housing costs. This is coupled with low rental vacancy rates, making the job of finding an affordable property on a low income extremely difficult.

Momentum Collective, CEO Virginia Walker, said it was important to help women transition out of emergency and crisis accommodation and into secure housing.

She said there has been a significant increase in demand for emergency and crisis accommodation by women escaping family and domestic violence in the Lismore area.
Momentum Collective is responding by establishing a transitional model of accommodation where women will be supported into long term housing.

"There is a growing problem in this region – women are wanting to leave crisis accommodation and find somewhere to live, but because there is nothing affordable for them, they end up staying in crisis care meaning fewer beds are available in emergencies," Ms Walker said.

"Many of these women are fleeing dangerous situations and have nothing but the clothes on their backs. We are responding by establishing a house where single women can go for up to 12 months and receive the support they need to get back on their feet and move into affordable and secure housing."

Lismore State MP Janelle Saffin supports the initiative and urges local businesses and the community to help Momentum Collective set up the house by donating furniture.

"We frequently call upon local businesses who are so generous as are our community members," she said.

"Unfortunately, more and more women in our community are experiencing homelessness, displaced by the housing affordability crisis in our region. The home being created by Momentum Collective will give women a safe and secure place to go and help them get back on their feet."

While items don't need to be new, they should be in good condition. Anyone interested in donating items can call Momentum Collective on (02) 6621 2685.

Monetary donations can be made at https://mymomentum.org.au/donate/

Items needed for the house:
• 3 x double / queen size beds and mattresses
• Fridge
• Washing machine and dryer
• Dining table and chairs
• Coffee tables
• Outdoor furniture
• Bedside tables
• Linen / bedding
• Crockery
• Kitchen appliances
• Storage shelving
• Rugs
• Lamps

For any further information please contact Sequel PR

http://www.sequelpr.com

Sequel PR – experts in marketing communications, crisis management and public relations (PR).