By Cam Lucadou-Wells
WINDERMERE Child and Family Services has received an extra $1.8 million in State funding for family violence services.
Windermere chief executive Dr Lynette Buoy said the funding will provide an extra 345 high-risk family violence response packages for those leaving or planning to leave family violence situations.
It will also fund an extra $550,000 a year for resources and services to prevent homelessness for more than 200 affected families.
Dr Buoy said family violence was one of the main causes of homelessness, particularly for women and children.
“There aren’t really wait lists as such, due to the enormity and seriousness of the issue,” a spokeswoman for Windermere said.
“Anyone requesting these packages is pretty much seen straight away.
“The additional funds allow us to provide more services and reach more people quickly.”
In the past 12 months, Windermere has provided government-funded counselling to nearly 500 people affected by family violence and sexual assault.
It estimates that demand for its family violence services, such as counselling, housing and victims of crime programs, has tripled in the past two years.
Windermere shares in an extra $3.5 million allocated for family violence support agencies in the southern metropolitan region.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said the funding would double the capacity to provide case management to family violence victims.
“The government is determined to ensure family violence agencies are able to offer women and children in Casey the support they need,” he said.
