Nova fliers offering domestic violence survivors a Newcastle car park to sleep in spark despair and outrage: ‘This is so sad’

A flyer offering women and children fleeing domestic violence a ‘secure parking space’ where they can sleep is leaving Australians in despair over the state of the country.

Nova, a referral service in the NSW city of Newcastle for women and children escaping domestic violence, has put out flyers asking women sleeping in their cars if they are ‘looking for a safer place to spend a few evenings each night’. to sleep in your car for a week?’

The flyer says the pilot project will run on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from April to June, and the car park will provide food and drink, showers, toilets, laundry facilities, a kitchen, TV and lounge. Those with dogs are also accepted.

The service that manages the car park has not been named for security reasons and Nova will screen applicants before referring them.

“We are encouraged by the enthusiastic response from our community (both locally and nationally) to share support options for women in need of a place to sleep,” Nova said in a statement about the pilot project.

‘We certainly do not see this pilot as a housing solution, but as a response to the acute crisis currently prevailing in our region.’

Nova CEO Kelly Hansen told Nine newspapers that the parking garage had become necessary due to the Australian housing crisis.

“Women sleeping in their cars is not a solution for housing, but we have no other answer,” she said.

The poster advertising the valet parking service has been shared widely online, causing social media users to react in shock and outrage.

“This is so damn sad,” one person wrote in a comment on the Don’t Rent Me Facebook page.

“The fact that something like this has to be offered hurts my heart,” said another.

“I think people have no idea how many people stay in abusive relationships because there is no other alternative than sleeping in a car,” read another comment.

Some saw it as a tragic sign of what Australia has become.

“It’s a crisis point and an embarrassment to this country,” one person commented.

“While I am so happy that these services are available, I am so disappointed that this is where we are today.

‘We are changing so quickly to the US. The gap between gender, income and education is starting to get out of hand.

‘Not the Australia I grew up loving, I wish no one had to sleep in cars.’

Other commentators called on the government to do more.

‘Why oh why doesn’t our government do something about this urgently?!’ asked another.

The Albanian government has offered $5,000 to women fleeing domestic violence (stock image)

“I work in self-storage and I have so many clients come in and store their belongings and then lose it all because they’re homeless and can’t pay.

‘It breaks my heart when we have to auction their things.

‘We do our utmost to help them, but in the end we are just as powerless as they are. The government can certainly do something about this.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Wednesday that female victims of domestic violence will receive up to $5,000 and help accessing services, in response to the recent spike in domestic violence deaths.

The Abusive Leaving Payment is intended to help those who would otherwise be financially trapped living with an abusive partner.

“Those who qualify will access up to $5,000 in financial support, along with referral services, risk assessments and safety planning,” Mr Albanese said.

“This commitment builds on measures our government has taken to help remove the financial barriers to escaping violence.”

Rosie Batty, a domestic violence survivor and advocate, welcomed an expansion of emergency financial assistance, but raised concerns about barriers around eligibility and access.

She said women are most at risk of violence and murder when they leave an abusive relationship, and urged more federal and state resources for recovery and healing.

‘I appreciate that this is an important request that the government has listened to, but what I would enforce is that I hope that this payment is easily accessible and provided without the victim having to prove or go through an extensive screening process that would ultimately retraumatizes. said Mrs. Batty.

‘Ultimately, leaving an abusive relationship is a long recovery. We have to realize that the violence doesn’t necessarily stop because you leave.’