The funding for Haven Home Safe, delivered through the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation program, is for three, three-bedroom townhouses that will provide 18 safe places for women and their children, each year.

Construction is commencing on these homes which are due to be built by the end of May 2026 with the first tenants anticipated to move in the following August.

Haven Home Safe is a not-for-profit community and affordable housing provider. It offers integrated rental housing and homelessness support across Victoria and will provide ongoing support to tenants at the Bendigo site.

The Government is investing $175.1 million through Safe Places to provide emergency accommodation across Australia.

Funding under this program going toward 60 different projects across Australia to support the renovation, building or purchase of new crisis or emergency accommodation places for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence.

Quotes attributable to Lisa Chesters MP, Federal Member for Bendigo:

“Family and domestic violence is a scourge across our country that impacts too many women and children.

“Having a safe place to go can be the difference between staying in a violent relationship and leaving it. That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is investing so much in crisis and transitional accommodation like this project right here in Bendigo.

“This project will help ensure that more women and children experiencing family and domestic violence locally have a safe place to go and don’t have to choose between housing and their safety."