The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter provides a safe place to stay when women are escaping family violence, but the current property is not suitable for children – meaning that they have no choice but to turn away mums and their kids. They need just $200,000 to buy a suitable home, and are calling on the community to help through their Safe Place Appeal.
Homelessness and Family violence does not discriminate, and the recent isolation with Covid-19 has highlighted how many more women in our community need a Safe Place to get back on their feet.
The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter (HKWS) offers an incredible service to women within our community, providing them a safe place to stay when they are escaping family violence. However, the current premises that they lease is not suitable for children, so they have no option but to turn away women and their children, often forcing the women back into at-risk environments.
They need to be able to purchase their own home. One that is suitable to take women and children. But they need our help. They are $200,000 short of being able to buy their own home and they have their eye on one in the area that is perfect for their service.
Safe Place Appeal: $200k in 10 days
To help raise money, HKWS has launched a fundraising campaign, and are calling on everyone in the community to help make this new home a reality.
President of the Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter Louise McCann said the Shelter’s lease runs out in months, putting potentially hundreds of vulnerable women and children in our community at risk.
“Without a secure, new premises, HKWS may not be able to continue providing a safe haven to women and children who come to us in the most desperate of circumstances. Our community has dug deep so far to support HKWS’s efforts to find a permanent home for our Shelter and we’re so close to achieving this goal. We’re hoping to achieve that last mile of our journey, by partnering with Bendigo Bank Turramurra and Lindfield Community branches to raise $200,000 over the next 10 days until the end of financial year.”
Ms McCann said HKWS was now able to assist with women and children. The Shelter has also expanded its Outreach Program to respond to the challenges of recent months and the increasing needs of clients for immediate, private, tech-based services.
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About Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter
HKWS provides safe emergency accommodation and support services to women facing domestic violence and homelessness.
HKWS offers accommodation for a period of three months with an expert team of professionals providing tailored case management to help women reclaim their lives and create a safe and happy future. This includes access to health, legal, education and employment services. The Shelter can support up to 10 women at a time. Women who cannot be immediately housed can access the HKWS Outreach Program.
Part of the Women’s Community Shelters network, HKWS is a registered charity. They rely on the generosity and kindness of people and businesses in our community.
- HKWS safely housed 58 women in 2019 and 331 women since opening in 2015.
- A further 46 women have been assisted through the HKWS Outreach Program in the past year.
- According to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, there were 321 reported incidents of domestic violence in Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai in 2019.
Help them achieve their dream of a permanent, safe shelter for vulnerable women and children. Donate now.
Support from local businesses
The Turramurra and Lindfield Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank have kicked off the appeal with a generous donation of $20,000.
Branch Manager of Turramurra and Lindfield Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank, Dean Castell said the Bendigo was a proud supporter of HKWS and had been since the Shelter’s opening in 2015, when it was provided its first grant.
“Like many people and organisations in our community we recognise the critical role HKWS plays in protecting disadvantaged women in our community,” Mr Castell said.
“Now more than ever, everyone deserves a Safe Place. That’s why Bendigo is pledging to cover HKWS’s interest costs on a $500,000 loan for a period of three years.”
Mr Castell said this would go a long way to help HKWS find its new home and continue providing services, in addition to Bendigo’s donation of $20,000 to start the campaign.
“Everyone in our community can play a role by making even a small donation this EOFY.”
DONATE TO THE SAFE PLACE APPEAL
