Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) is an innovative and developing program
which provides practical and emotional support to women leaving domestic violence, with
the aim to support the victims to remain safely in their own home. SHLV works in
collaboration with the police and courts in removing the violent offender.
The Staying Home Leaving Violence Program Overview (Community Services, 2010)
identifies two major intended results for the funded SHLV services: clients are free from
domestic and family violence in their home, and remain so over time; and domestic and
family violence victims experience long term stability in housing, income, education and
healthy relationships.
The broad aim of the study was to build the evidence base for SHLV and inform service
delivery at a critical time as the program is implemented across the state. The focus of the
study was on women and children’s safety, post-separation violence and abuse, housing and
women’s use of SHLV services. Qualitative research methods were chosen as the most
appropriate way to engage with and listen to women’s experiences of leaving a domestic
violence relationship and accessing a SHLV service. One-on-one interviews were conducted
with a total of 17 women, from the three research sites of Eastern Sydney, Blacktown and the
Bega Valley.
All women interviewed for the study were living in stable accommodation, at the time of
interview. Nearly all women, including those living in private rental, had been in their
accommodation for over 12 months. A majority had been in the same housing for over two
years. The study findings provide evidence of a stability of housing which is unusual for
women leaving domestic violence relationships.
Most women affirmed they were now living lives (relatively) free from violence. To the
question ‘Do you consider you are now living a life free from violence?’ fourteen women
were able to answer ‘yes’. The study provided evidence that the support provided by SHLV
had been a factor in achieving this. Some women qualified their responses by saying they still
had memories of violence which would never leave them.
SPRC_report_411.pdf