We’re excited to announce that St Kilda Community Housing has received a grant from The Mercy Foundation to pilot an innovative program aimed at breaking the cycle of eviction and homelessness among women with complex needs.
This new project, Ending the Churn, will work intensively with 12 women currently housed in our properties who are at serious risk of eviction due to complex life circumstances, including behavioural challenges, rent arrears, and property damage. These women have few, if any, alternative housing options, and without intervention, are at high risk of returning to street homelessness, hospitalisation, or incarceration.
With modest but targeted support, including intensive tenancy management and a small indemnity fund to help cover damages or arrears, we believe we can prevent eviction, reduce the revolving door of homelessness, and demonstrate a more effective, compassionate approach to supporting vulnerable renters.
The pilot will also generate critical evidence to help shift policy and funding frameworks, showing that with the right interventions, eviction is not inevitable, even for those with the most complex needs.
This is practical, values-driven work and we’re proud to be leading it.
Thank you to the Mercy Foundation for recognising the potential of this model and supporting us to prove what’s possible.
