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A broker-created charity that supports victims of domestic violence has called on the broking industry to meet its donation target.
The broker-created Safe Haven Community charity has called on brokers and the broader financial services industry to donate to its Buy A Brick initiative to support victims of domestic violence.
The charity – which was created by Jaeneen Cunningham, a mortgage broker from Etairos Finance, and Denise Hunter, founding director of Safe Haven – aims to reach its $20,000 goal by 31 May to build safe houses for women and families who have experienced domestic violence.
Buy A Brick has already raised $8,225 in donations from the broking community, but the group is calling on brokers to spread the word to the broader financial services industry.
Safe Haven Community’s Buy A Brick initiative was created as a part of the organisation’s support for this year’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.
Cunningham said that donations – which are tax-deductible – would go towards securing a site, building the safe houses, and funding operational costs and support services that would support women at risk to move into stable and longer-term accommodation.
The new safe houses would provide women and their families with an additional 1,820 nights of safety each year, according to Cunningham. Donations or “bricks” start at $10 and can be purchased via the Buy A Brick website.
Speaking on the severity of domestic violence throughout Australia, Cunningham said: “Women are the fastest-growing group of homeless people in Australia, and domestic and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness from people seeking specialist support.
“We need options to help transition women and their children into more permanent accommodation, which is why we’re committed to establishing fully owned and operated, purpose-built, safe houses.”
The co-founder of Safe Haven Community continued: “The extreme levels of homelessness mean the demand for this type of service is greater now than ever, and have plans to start our next Safe Home very soon.”
She concluded that action against domestic violence and homelessness is “crucial” to getting women away from abusive environments and the threat of further harm.
The charity follows aggregator Australian Finance Group’s (AFG) support at a crisis centre kitchen earlier this month.
[Related: AFG supports crisis centre kitchen]
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