Hunter Electorate Sees Major Boost in Crisis and Transitional Housing Funding

The Albanese Government has announced a $100 million investment in crisis and transitional housing, with funding allocated to 41 organisations across the country. The initiative aims to provide safe accommodation for women, children, and older women at risk of homelessness, forming part of the government’s broader housing reform agenda.

Federal Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, confirmed the funding on 6 February 2025, highlighting the impact of family and domestic violence on vulnerable Australians.

“Family and domestic violence is a scourge on our society which has a huge impact on vulnerable women and kids,” Repacholi said. “It’s why we’re investing 20 times what the Coalition did in their decade in office, in just a few years. We know that having a safe place to go can be the difference between leaving a violent relationship or staying.”

Among the recipients, Macquarie Care Incorporated in the Hunter electorate will receive $2.27 million to construct four new two-bedroom units designed for older women at risk of homelessness. The development is expected to provide not just shelter but a pathway to stability and independence for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

The funding is being distributed through the Crisis and Transitional Accommodation Program (CTAP), part of Labor’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). CTAP supports the construction, remodelling, or purchase of crisis and transitional accommodation facilities and is aligned with the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.

Government sources say the highly competitive grants process received hundreds of applications, reflecting years of underinvestment in emergency housing under previous Coalition policies. The successful projects were selected based on their ability to meet the critical needs of women, children, and older women facing homelessness.

The announcement marks a significant shift in policy, with the Albanese Government investing nearly 20 times more in crisis and transitional accommodation than was allocated over the past decade.

“This injection of funds is vital,” said Dr. Helen Morris, a Sydney-based social policy analyst. “Safe, secure housing is a fundamental building block for tackling not just homelessness but also the broader impacts of family violence. It offers survivors a critical lifeline at a time when they need it most.”

Community advocates have long called for greater support for victims of domestic violence. In addition to housing initiatives, national crisis services such as 1800RESPECT and 13YARN remain available for those seeking help.

With the funding set to be distributed in the coming months, communities in the Hunter and across Australia are expected to see strengthened support systems aimed at breaking cycles of violence and instability.