It Can Happen to You

Noone ever imagines they might become homeless, never anticipates having nowhere to go and noone to turn to – in fact, it can happen to anyone. The women at the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter could be your work colleague, your neighbour, your friend, your sister – they could be you.

Shelter Manager Narelle Hand explains what brings women to the service and how the focus is to help them heal, turn their lives around and reach towards the better, brighter future they deserve.

Are people surprised by the need for a women’s refuge on the Northern Beaches?
Yes, but there is definitely a need for the service. Since we opened our doors in November 2010, more than 500 homeless women have benefited from NBWS, and we remain the only shelter on the Northern Beaches solely for women.

What do you feel the Shelter’s role is for these women, aside from providing accommodation?
The women come to us at what is often the worst time in their lives. NBWS supports them so they can rebuild their lives, reclaim their independence, and live out their goals and aspirations. We work to empower them to build a future for themselves free from violence and harm. It takes time to gain their trust and build a connection so we can learn and understand their story. We feel privileged to be part of their journey and to walk alongside these women.

How do you support these women and identify what they need?
When the women arrive at shelter, a common feeling is “How did I get here?” They can’t comprehend how or where or when exactly things went so ‘off track’. Even when they have experienced domestic violence, they never imagine being homeless. These are women who had jobs, family, friends, homes, children and a stable life – and then something happens. They have experienced loss, trauma, grief, and violence. We work with the women to identify what they need to move forward and support them with housing, finances, work or training, health and wellbeing, and legal issues such as custody or contact with children or perhaps obtaining visas.

Is there a common theme in terms of social circumstances, cultural background, or age?
The one thing that these women have in common is that they are homeless and need our help. We offer short term crisis accommodation and transitional housing but there is always a waiting list for our services, and we turn away 152 women per year.

How is the Shelter funded?
We rely heavily on philanthropy and donations. We receive only 6% in government support of our total funding needs. Successful grant applications also assist us in covering accommodation and living costs, wages, and programs to enhance the lives of our clients in shelter and in outreach. However, many of these are one-off grants.