Bridging the Gap
Strengthening collaboration between family violence and homelessness services
Bridging the Gap is generating evidence about the innovations between Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) and Specialist Family Violence Services (SFVS) that aim to reduce referral and service gaps and get better outcomes for victim survivors.
What is Bridging the Gap?
Bridging the Gap is a partnership project between Council to Homeless Persons and Safe and Equal, supported by the Greater Melbourne Foundation.
Phase One of the project, delivered in 2024-2025, revealed how a large proportion of victim survivors of family violence are referred between SHS and SFVS access points without receiving crisis accommodation or homelessness support.
Bridging the Gap Phase Two is underway in 2026-2027. Building on Phase One findings, it focuses on identifying the system conditions that contribute to these service gaps and generating evidence about the innovations that the family violence and homelessness sectors use to reduce gaps and improve responses for victim survivors experiencing homelessness risks. The project is place-based with a focus on innovations in the North and West Metropolitan Regions of Melbourne.
Through collaborative evidence gathering, lived experience input and shared learning, the project will contribute to future cross-sector workforce development and advocacy for systems change, with the ultimate goal of enabling better outcomes for victim survivors.
Contact
For more information, contact Project Lead, Erin Davis via erin@chp.org.au
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the aims of Bridging the Gap?
Bridging the Gap aims to improve alignment, collaboration, and outcomes between the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) and Specialist Family Violence Services (SFVS) to reduce referral and service gaps for victim survivors.
Phase One of the project investigated the systemic ‘referral bounce back’ problem between the two sectors, which can mean that some victim survivors don’t always receive the support they need for homelessness risks. This is a symptom of a range of systems conditions – most notably, government underinvestment in services and housing pathways, high service demand, deficits in perpetrator accountability, and differences in how SHS and SFVS are designed and operate.
Phase Two of the project is building on these findings and using a human-centred systems thinking approach to:
- Explore the wider systems conditions that shape referral and service gaps, and
- Generate evidence about the innovations that SHS and SFVS use to address these gaps within systems constraints.
Phase Two’s specific focus on North and West Metropolitan Melbourne will enable deep local learning, which will be shared with the sectors and government partners to inform workforce development and peak body advocacy for systems change.
Who is involved in the project governance?
The project is overseen by a steering committee including representatives from Safe and Equal, the Council to Homeless Persons and regional family violence and homelessness service network coordinators in North and West Metropolitan Melbourne.
What kinds of innovations will this project focus on?
Systems mapping has located a range of innovations in the North and West Metropolitan Regions that focus on reducing service and referral gaps for victim survivors of family violence experiencing homelessness risks. These innovations include specialist service roles, co-location trials across services, cross-sector alliances, referral protocols, and other special projects focused on the intersection of homelessness and family violence.
How will people working on local innovations be involved?
People involved in local innovations will be active partners in the project. They will be engaged in designing evidence generation methods, share their experiences and learning, and help us interpret findings to develop strategic actions and recommendations.
How will people with lived experience be involved?
The project will involve lived experience advisors to help interpret findings, test assumptions, and strengthen recommendations so they are grounded in the experiences of people who have navigated family violence and homelessness.
What will happen with the findings?
Findings will be used to support cross-sector learning, workforce development, and peak body advocacy for systems change to enable better outcomes for victim survivors experiencing homelessness risks. The findings will be shared on this webpage, in peak body newsletters and reports, and through cross-sector briefings and forums.
Resources
The following list provides useful resources addressing the intersection of family violence and homelessness services.
Service policies and procedures
Homelessness and Housing Support Guidelines (2025). https://fac.dffh.vic.gov.au/homelessness-and-housing-support-guidelines-0
Family Violence Case Management Requirements (2022). https://fac.dffh.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-06/Case%20management%20program%20requirements_0.docx
Housing and homelessness policies and procedures. Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. https://fac.dffh.vic.gov.au/housing-and-homelessness-policies-and-procedures
Family violence and sexual assault policies and procedures. Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. https://fac.dffh.vic.gov.au/family-violence-and-sexual-assault-policies-and-procedures
Family violence risk assessment and management
Family Violence Multiagency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) practice guides and resources. https://www.vic.gov.au/maram-practice-guides-and-resources
Family Violence Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System. https://training.infosharing.vic.gov.au/
MARAM Training Courses. Safe and Equal. https://safeandequal.org.au/training-events/maram-courses/
Specialist Homelessness Services Family Violence and MARAM eLearning. Council to Homeless Persons https://chp.kineoportal.com.au/
*to access the eLearning system, set up a free account via the above link. It is recommended to commence with the Family Violence Concepts eLearn, then the MARAM and Information Sharing Schemes eLearn, before doing either the Screening & Identification or the Brief & Intermediate Assessments depending on your role.
Peak body resources
The Coordinated Family Violence System. Safe and Equal. https://safeandequal.org.au/working-in-family-violence/family-violence-system/
Victoria’s homelessness and housing system. The Council to Homeless Persons. https://chp.org.au/about-homelessness/victorias-homelessness-and-housing-system/
The Code of Practice: Principles and Standards for Specialist Family Violence Services for Victim Survivors. Safe and Equal. https://safeandequal.org.au/working-in-family-violence/service-responses/specialist-family-violence-services/the-code-of-practice/
Guidance for specialist homelessness sector workers. Council to Homeless Persons. https://chp.org.au/sector-learning-and-development/shs-learning-program/practice-resources/
Systems reform
Victorian Government. (2024). Government response to the Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria. Parliament of Victoria. *Includes recommendations for family violence related homelessness. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4a482d/contentassets/38d317b205354547a4fb4682bf2759c0/government-response-to-the-inquiry-into-homelessness-in-victoria.pdf
The Royal Commission into Family Violence, Vol II, Chapter 9. ‘A Safe Home’ (2016). *chapter and recommendations focused on family violence, housing and homelessness http://rcfv.archive.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/MediaLibraries/RCFamilyViolence/Reports/Final/RCFV-Vol-II.pdf
Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor (2020). Report of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor: Safe housing (1 November 2020). Victorian Government. *reviews progress and gaps related to post-Royal commission reforms for family violence, housing and homelessness https://archive.fvrim.vic.gov.au/report-family-violence-reform-implementation-monitor-1-november-2020
The Royal Commission into Family Violence: Implementation and Aftermath (2023). Panel discussion at Victorian Homelessness Conference 2023. *discussion of post-Royal Commission reforms for family violence, housing and homelessness https://chp.org.au/parity/the-royal-commission-into-family-violence-implementation-and-aftermath/
Enduring and Evolving: Five Years on from the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence (2021). *includes discussion of gaps related to housing and homelessness. https://safeandequal.org.au/wp-content/uploads/FVFunders-Network-Report_RCFV-5-years-in-review.pdf
Family Violence Housing Blitz Package evaluation: Executive summary. Victorian Government (2019). https://www.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/Family-Violence-Housing-Blitz-Package-evaluation-executive-summary.docx
Special projects
Bridging the Gap. Council to Homeless Persons & Safe and Equal. https://chp.org.au/sector-learning-and-development/shs-learning-program/bridging-the-gap/
Women’s Housing Alliance. https://womenshousingalliance.org.au/
Housing Safety Project. https://womenshousingalliance.org.au/projects-research/projects/housing-safety-project
Women’s Homelessness Prevention Project. https://justiceconnect.org.au/homeless-law/womens-homelessness-prevention-project/
LGBTI Housing & Homelessness Projects. https://www.lgbtihomeless.org.au/
Melbourne City Mission’s Amplify Program. https://www.mcm.org.au/news/amplify-evaluation-confirms-family-violence-program-is-changing-lives
Walk In Her Shoes, Council to Homeless Persons. https://chp.org.au/news-and-advocacy/everyhome/walk-in-her-shoes/
Safe at Home
McAuley & Meli Safe at Home Trial (Victoria). https://www.mcauley.org.au/about/advocacy/safe-at-home/
Soraghan, K., Bignold, J., Humphreys, C., Grgat, J. & Kan, M. (2022). Keeping family violence victims ‘Safe at Home’: practitioner perspectives. McAuley & University of Melbourne. https://www.mcauley.org.au/new-research-explores-why-women-arent-able-to-stay-home-after-family-violence/
Breckenridge, J., Lyons, G., & Suchting, M. (2026). Safe at Home Responses in Australia: Addressing Homelessness and Economic Insecurity for Women and Children Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence. Social Sciences, 15(4), 260. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040260
Breckenridge, J., Chung, D., Spinney, A., & Zufferey, C. (2016). National mapping and meta-evaluation outlining key features of effective “safe at home” programs that enhance safety and prevent homelessness for women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence: Final report. ANROWS. https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/national-mapping-and-meta-evaluation-outlining-key-features-of-effective-safe-at-home-programs-that-enhance-safety-and-prevent-homelessness-for-women-and-their-children-who-have-experienced-domestic-a/
Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., Crinall, K. Safe at home? Housing decisions for women leaving family violence. Australian Journal of Social Issues. 2017; 52: 32–47. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajs4.5
Housing persons using violence
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. (2022, October 26). Housing male perpetrators of domestic and family violence. AHURI. https://www.ahuri.edu.au/analysis/brief/housing-male-perpetrators-domestic-and-family-violence
No to Violence. (2021). Perpetrator Accommodation and Support Service (PASS): Evaluation report (Final Report, 26 May 2021). https://ntv.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/PASS-evaluation-report_FINAL_26-May-20212.pdf
Payne, J. (2021). Room4Change in the ACT: A developmental evaluation of processes and outcomes (Final Report). Domestic Violence Crisis Service. https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66eff2c2d4f81130057706d9/689a881dd751c4fbaf44a951_DVCS_R4C%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%20Final%20-%2018May2021.pdf
Domestic Violence Housing First Models (USA, UK & Europe)
Domestic Violence Housing First Demonstration Evaluation. https://aspe.hhs.gov/dvhf-demonstration-evaluation
Home for Good: Housing First for Domestic Abuse Survivors. The Centre for Social Justice. https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/home-for-good-housing-first-for-domestic-abuse-survivors
Housing First: Europe Hub. What is Housing First for Women? https://housingfirsteurope.eu/housing-first-for-women/
Published data
Family, domestic and sexual violence – Housing. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/family-domestic-and-sexual-violence/responses-and-outcomes/housing
Homelessness and Domestic and Family Violence: State of Response Report 2024. Homelessness Australia, 2024. https://homelessnessaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IWD-2024-3.pdf
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. (2022, February 10). Unmet housing demand for people affected by family violence. Victorian Government. https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/publications/unmet-housing-demand-people-affected-family-violence
Housing outcomes after domestic and family violence, AHURI Final Report No. 311. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/311
Research studies and reviews
Victorian Council of Social Services (2025). A VCOSS Insights Paper: Barriers to rental fairness for family violence victim survivors and ways to dismantle them. https://vcoss.org.au/family-violence/2025/06/hidden-hurdles/
Kendrick, A. (2024). Domestic Abuse and Homelessness: What Works Evidence Notes. Centre for Homelessness Impact. www.homelessnessimpact.org/publication/what-works-evidence-notes-domestic-abuse-and-homelessness
Housing Safety Project (2024). Discovery Phase Literature Review Papers. https://womenshousingalliance.org.au/projects-research/projects/housing-safety-project/the-housing-safety-project-discovery-phase
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. (2024, March 7). What are the real costs of Australia’s housing crisis for women? AHURI. https://www.ahuri.edu.au/analysis/brief/what-are-real-costs-australias-housing-crisis-women
valentine, k., Cripps, K., Flanagan, K., Habibis, D., Martin, C. and Blunden, H. (2020) Inquiry into integrated housing support for vulnerable families, AHURI Final Report No. 339. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne. https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/ final-reports/339 *see p.8 for discussion of family violence and homelessness sector integration issues.
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2019). Domestic and family violence, housing insecurity and homelessness: Research synthesis (2nd Ed.; ANROWS Insights, 07/2019). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS. https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/domestic-and-family-violence-housing-insecurity-and-homelessness-research-synthesis/
Cripps, K. and Habibis, D. (2019). Improving housing and service responses to domestic and family violence for Indigenous individuals and families, AHURI Final Report 320. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, http://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/320
Spinney, A. (2012). Home and safe? Policy and practice innovations to prevent women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence from becoming homeless, AHURI Final Report No. 196, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/196
Upcoming events
Check back here to see when events related to Bridging the Gap are happening.