A disused aged care facility in East Gosford has been transformed into a 14-room transitional housing facility for displaced older women under an innovative partnership between the NSW government, Pacific Link Housing and Women's Community Shelters.
Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the vacant site had been given a new lease of life while providing much needed housing for vulnerable older women.
"Rather than remaining vacant and unused, this site has been transformed into a new facility that will provide wrap-around support for women aged 55-years and older who are escaping domestic and family violence or who are at risk of homelessness," Mrs Ward said.
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said this facility will provide transitional accommodation for women for up to 36 months while more permanent housing was being secured for the occupants.
"This initiative is a great example of how unused private buildings can be put to good use to benefit vulnerable people at risk of homelessness and provide DFV escapees with a safe place to heal as they begin to rebuild their lives," Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
The NSW Government provided $300,000 to develop the facility as part of the Domestic and Family Violence National Partnership Agreement 2021-23.
Spearheaded by the Sydney based Women's Community Shelters (WCS), the partnership agreement allows for the premises to be used as a women's shelter for up to three years.
WCS COO Simone Parsons said there is a high number of older women experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness in NSW.
"Affordable and stable housing is important to help women re-establish their lives post violence, especially for older women," Ms Parsons said.
"Through this partnership additional housing is being supplied. WCS will also provide residents with case management support and coordinate community engagement and wellbeing activities as well on-site support services."
Pacific Link CEO Ian Lynch said his organisation was proud to partner with like-minded organisations who were willing to take an innovative approach to support women escaping domestic and family violence.
"Now that refurbishment work is complete, the first group of new tenants are readying to move in," he said. "Each tenant will receive their own refurbished studio apartment and the site has also been fitted out with communal lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities and gardens."
