WOMEN escaping domestic violence in the Great Lakes will have access to a refuge within eight weeks thanks to community fundraising, pledges-in-kind and state government funding.
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The community alone raised $95,000 in six months which has let the Great Lakes Women's Shelter (GLWS) sign the lease on their main house on Monday.
The money will fund a two-bedroom cottage and a three-bedroom house.
GLWS president Julie Brady said the money was raised so fast because people knew how prevalent domestic violence was.
Ms Brady said a lot of people had experienced, or knew someone who had experienced domestic violence.
“Domestic violence is so prevalent, it’s scary. That is why this enormous groundswell has happened,” Ms Brady said.
Ms Brady said the $95,000 was raised through things like fun-runs and donations.
That money will go to a two bedroom cottage, provided to the committee rent free, and a three bedroom house they were currently upgrading.
The committee was also looking at the possibility of room-sharing depending on the cases.
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Ms Brady said she expected their service would be in high demand.
“Two women a week come out of court system here,” she said.
“They were being refereed to Taree's women shelter, but that shelter has been unable to accept them.
“That means an average of two women a week were being turned away. So they were going back to the same dangerous conditions.”
However, Ms Brady said the only statistics they had were from existing services, and she believed the need for a women's shelter was higher.
“If women know there is an opportunity to escape or a place to go they will come,” she said.
“And it is not just the rooms they need, the important thing is support.”
The committee will also try to re-teach budgeting and job skills and everything else needed to reach independence.
Ms Brady said this process could take three months, and they were currently looking for a manger and domestic violence support worker.
“I don’t think this has ever been seen before. The level of community support has been astounding,” Ms Brady said.
“The community has just rallied. I don’t think government can provide the level of funding necessary to put the right resources in the community. But if you’ve got the community, philanthropic organisation and government funding, the community can help itself and the government can help the community help itself.”
Ms Brady thanked Club Forster, all recreational and service clubs and everyone else that helped them with funding so far.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said GLWS president Julie Brady was in an abusive relationship. Ms Brady was never in an abusive relationship.
