Donations fund new women's refuge after government funding denied

The charity behind an in-demand women's refuge will open a second Sydney location thanks to philanthropic donations, after being unsuccessful in securing federal government funding.For over a decade, Mary's House Services has provided accommodation and services in Sydney's north for women and children escaping domestic violence.The site of their first refuge, a leased property, has provided more than 20,000 safe room nights.Mary's House Services is almost entirely philanthropically funded. (Supplied)Mary's House Services recorded a 63 per cent increase in client referrals in 2025 compared with the previous year."We receive referrals from all parts of Sydney as well as from rural and regional areas in New South Wales and even interstate, because often families need to relocate for safety, financial, employment and other practical reasons," Mary's House Services CEO Yvette Vignando said.In the 2024-25 financial year, 118 women (and their children) were declined refuge accommodation because of no vacancy, with 38 referrals for social worker support also declined due to no capacity, their annual report states.In the 2025-26 financial year, Ms Vignando said they had to decline 176 refuge accommodation referrals due to no vacancy.Yvette Vignando says the refuge receives referrals from all parts of NSW. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)Government knocked back funding for refuge purchaseAmid a peak in demand, the organisation pursued funding through Housing Australia's National Housing Infrastructure Facility Crisis and Transitional Housing program (now known as the Housing Australia Future Fund – Crisis and Transitional program) to purchase and upgrade an existing building in Sydney for use as their second refuge.In the 2024-25 federal budget, the Australian government committed $1 billion to fund crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children.Mary's House Services had consulted with Homes NSW and Housing Australia about their proposed application."We were devastated to be informed that our application was unsuccessful," Ms Vignando said.The charity's application for federal government funding was unsuccessful. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)The not-for-profit organisation is a registered charity that is almost entirely philanthropically funded, though it has received some NSW government funding to add three caseworkers to its team.Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall made representations on Mary's House Services' behalf, but that was also unsuccessful.Ms Steggall told the ABC she felt "very disappointed"."Domestic violence is a national crisis. A suite of urgent action is needed, and that has to include proper support to the frontline organisations that are there when people are at their most vulnerable," she said."It's simply not acceptable that families in my electorate, or anywhere in Australia, might be turned away in their hour of need due to a lack of crisis accommodation."Zali Steggall says urgent action is needed to better fund frontline services. (ABC: Ian Cutmore)Two factors noted in Housing Australia's rejection correspondence were that the project did not provide an uplift in housing supply and that the organisation had not demonstrated sufficient or secure funding.The rejection also said the NSW government assessed the project's "overall priority as low".Homes NSW declined to comment to the ABC.A Housing Australia spokesperson said applicants were assessed against eligibility criteria."We recognise that funding outcomes may be disappointing for unsuccessful applicants and acknowledge the effort involved in developing and submitting proposals for consideration," they said."Housing Australia previously advised Mary's House Services of the outcome of its application and identified the areas where the proposal did not meet the program requirements."Mary's House Services instead reached out to its philanthropic networks and secured the money to purchase the property through donations."If it was not for the incredible generosity of a small number of philanthropic individuals, we would not be where we are today," Ms Vignando said.New safe haven a win for Sydney's northThe new refuge will consist of self-contained apartments for women and children.This second site will primarily provide temporary crisis housing for women and children of all ages, including families with pets.The second refuge will provide temporary crisis housing for women and children of all ages, including families with pets. (Supplied/Unsplash: Vasu Pendyala)Between both refuges and its accompanying services such as specialist social workers, housing coordination and trauma-informed counselling, Mary's House Services will support hundreds of victim-survivors annually."Ten years ago, a group of caring community members on Sydney's lower north shore decided that more women and children experiencing domestic and family violence should be provided with safety, critical care and hope," the organisation's chair Helen Conway said."They recognised a gap in services … the founders say that their vision has now grown beyond anything they imagined."Ms Steggall said she was pleased the organisation had found the necessary financial backing: "It's an important project that I'm very proud to support."Helen Conway praised the work of the Mary's House Services's team. (Supplied)Now, the focus is planning for the future.The purchase of the property will be complete in October, then upgrades to security and renovations will take place so that it is ready to offer refuge accommodation from 2027.To operate the refuge, the charity will need to employ more specialist social workers.But at this stage it was entirely reliant on philanthropic generosity, Ms Vignando said, with no government funding committed to service delivery at the second refuge."We're always cheering for our friends in the sector when they become the recipient of funding."But my observation is that there is not enough federal or state government investment in crisis and transitional housing across Sydney's northern suburbs," Ms Vignando said."We're incredibly hopeful because we know we'll be able to help more women and children escape domestic and family violence."