Domestic Violence Survivors to Access NSW First Home-Buyer Assistance, Supporting Them in Rebuilding Their Financial Freedom
Petitioner:
Ms Jennie Sargisson
| Member:
Williams, Ray
| No. of Signatories:
297
| Date closed:
16/05/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
Victims fleeing domestic violence (DV) often do so at the cost of losing their home. In effect, domestic violence has a long lasting and significant financial impact on a DV survivor. Concerns of financial hardship are one of the key motivating factors that keep women in a violent relationship (Michelle Lensink, SA Minister for Human Services, 2021).
When leaving DV, victims are often re-starting their lives from even below baseline. The majority are contending with their own recovery from abuse, in addition to supporting their children. Medical expenses and time off work may constitute a loss of income and even require access to their superannuation under extenuating circumstances. “Many women choose not to pursue financial settlements after relationship breakdown because of the particular barriers created by family violence. This causes further financial disadvantage for women” (Women’s Legal Service Victoria, 2015).
To empower Domestic Violence victims to leave these relationships, society needs to provide assistance which gives survivors the hope of rebuilding their financial security.
Doing so would:
1.better the individual economically
2.provide a greatly needed boost to their self-worth
3.benefit society by decreasing the high number of existing DV relationships
4.improve mental health on a societal level, thus reducing macro-medical costs.
We therefore request that the Assembly legislates that:
A survivor recovering from a spousal domestic violence relationship should have access to all NSW First Home Buyer Grants and Assistance regardless of whether they have previously accessed such benefits.
