Session spotlight – Safe and housed: women, violence and homelessness

Concurrent 6 – 11:00 am Wednesday 7 October 2026

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Family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia. Rising rents, low vacancy rates and the decline of social housing stock mean that women leaving violence face a private rental market that is largely inaccessible, and a social housing waitlist that can stretch for years.

At the same time, the shortage of appropriate, affordable housing at the end of crisis support pathways means that temporary and transitional accommodation must do more, for longer, than it was designed to do.

This session explores innovative responses — from ‘meanwhile use’ properties and pregnant women's support to keeping women safely in their own homes — that challenge how we prevent and respond to homelessness.

Changing the narrative: Early intervention in family violence as homelessness prevention

Jocelyn Bignold OAM, CEO, McAuley Community Services for Women

This presentation will showcase McAuley's pioneering Safe at Home response, which supports women and children to remain safely in their home of choice while the violence is disrupted. This includes ensuring accountability and support for the person using violence. Key insights from a woman’s lived experience of Safe at Home will demonstrate how early intervention in family violence can function as a powerful homelessness prevention strategy.

Homewards: Making Meaning out of 'Meanwhile Use'

Annabelle Daniel OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Women's Community Shelters

‘Meanwhile use’ describes the use of vacant homes waiting to be sold or redeveloped for short-term housing. This presentation will explore what partnership models and practice capabilities are needed to make meanwhile-use properties work effectively as crisis, transitional and affordable accommodation for women and children. It will share evidence of the effectiveness of this model in providing transitions to more permanent housing, alongside professional support and social inclusion.

Early Intervention for women and gender diverse people who are pregnant without a home

Dr Theresa Lynch, Chair, Pregnancy and Homelessness Coalition

There are very few specialist services that can bridge the gap between maternity health, housing support and the complex intersecting needs — substance use, mental health, prior trauma — that many homeless pregnant women bring. This presentation will outline the importance of early intervention, the context in which pregnant homeless women seek support and identify specialist services that provide a model for future developments in this area.

Facilitating this session is Helen Waters Silvia, Director, Service Delivery, YWCA Australia. For more than 25 years, Helen’s work has focused on improving systemic responses so that services and systems better meet the needs of women, children, and marginalised communities.

Don’t miss this inspiring session – secure your place at Australian Homelessness Conference 2026 today!

Conference registration includes access to all plenary, major concurrent and concurrent sessions, as well as the Welcome Reception at the end of day one (two-day registrations only). A range of registration packages are available, with reduced rates for not-for-profits, concession and lived-experience attendees, and groups of 3 or more.