Grant to help South West crisis centre

South West Refuge can provide more crisis accommodation for women in need thanks to a $10,000 community grant.

The refuge helps women and children escaping domestic violence by providing 24/7 support, including accommodation, advocacy and transitional housing.

The service helped 500 women and children a year and the main intake area was regional, according to South West Refuge chief executive Ali White, pictured.

“Many of them come to us come at all hours of the day and night usually after an incident such as being attacked,” she said.

The service is important because it provides somewhere safe for them to stay while they sort everything out so they can rebuild.

The Westpac Foundation awarded 100 community organisations across Australia with grants, eight of which were in WA.

Ms White said the grant would allow them to furnish a new transition housing property.

“We have seven properties which are called transition housing and when the women leave the refuge they can stay in these properties for up to 12 months to allow them to buy themselves some time in order to find a rental or housing and decide what they’re going to do,” she said.

Ms White said they were appreciative of the community support and believed the service was crucial because “you never know when you might need it”.