The government is reforming specialist homelessness services (SHS) under its Going Home Staying Home policy, which it says will make services easier to access and deliver a better balance between early intervention, crisis and post-crisis support. 

It also says the resources will be allocated based on need and will focus on the quality of the services, as well as improving the structure and contracting of services.

Wollongong Women’s Refuge manager Kathy Colyer said the refuge,  like all   specialist homeless services in NSW,  had to tender for funding for the first time.

‘‘The aim of the reforms is to change the way organisations are working, but also they want to reduce contracts – they don’t want to fund as many organisations,’’ she said.

Ms Colyer said she had concerns that in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven the number of SHS providers would be reduced severely.

The Wollongong Women’s Refuge provides crisis accommodation, transitional accommodation,  outreach support for women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and an Illawarra-Shoalhaven domestic violence pilot project.

The refuge provides accommodation for six women and up to 12 children escaping domestic violence and other crises, while there are also 10 units and five three-bedroom properties for transitional accommodation.

The non-profit organisation has applied for an Illawarra homelessness/domestic violence package for women, which would include the refuge’s properties, as well as Warilla Women’s Refuge and Wollongong Women’s Housing’s properties.

‘‘In the end, only one organisation will win that tender. The properties of those three organisations will be merged under one funding arrangement,’’ Ms Colyer said.

The refuge is one of eight organisations to tender, but the outcome had been postponed  until some time in June.

‘‘It’s been pretty horrible for organisations not knowing whether staff are going to have jobs, what we tell our clients...it’s very hard to plan. It’s business as usual, but we can’t guarantee the service will last past June.’’

If the refuge did not succeed, it would wind down and a new provider would take over. Wollongong and Warilla have put in a joint proposal, which if successful would result in their merger.

Ms Colyer said the government was trying to prevent more people becoming homeless by saving tenancies at risk, but there would always be a need for crisis and transitional accommodation.

‘‘The amount of women that we turn away on a daily basis because we’re full is just astronomical. A lot of women who have experienced domestic violence, it takes them a few goes before they’re ready to go it alone, with support.’’

In March, the refuge couldn’t accommodate 22 women with children, 38 single women and 43 children. These people were contacted and offered outreach support to find housing.

‘‘Sometimes they go back to the perpetrator, sometime they couch surf or get temporary accommodation with Housing NSW.’’

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