Abstract

There is a crisis within crisis accommodation in Australia whereby victim-survivors of domestic and family violence cannot access safe accommodation and services. To delve into the impact of this disaster in Victoria, victim-survivors were interviewed about their journeys through the crisis accommodation services landscape. Interpretation of preliminary research findings adopted participatory dissemination through interview-based graphic storytelling to produce a zine. Findings depicted in the zine highlight that women are forced to navigate a system of scarcity and neglect; and that specifically, poor housing support, design and access can re-traumatise and further marginalise women. In leveraging these insights, the path towards individual recovery starts with the healing of our crisis response system through better funding and resourcing, more diverse housing and service options, and a collaborative support system based on respect, trust, and inclusion.

Contributors

Erika Martino, Alicia Yon, Kate Raynor, Sarah Howell, and the WEAVERs