Communities and Justice

Extended Rent Support Helps People Escaping Domestic Violence Find a Secure Home

1 July 2022

The NSW Government is helping to ensure people escaping domestic and family violence find a secure home with the extension of a successful rent support program. 

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the Rent Choice Start Safely private rental subsidy is being extended in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Campbelltown areas. 

“This program is proven to help people when they are escaping domestic violence, that’s why it’s being extended so that more women can be provided with short to medium-term financial support to help them secure private rental accommodation,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said. 


Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said personal financial pressures can make violence in the family home more likely, while also making it harder to escape. 

“These measures are specifically designed to give more options and safe accommodation to people escaping domestic or family violence,” Mrs Ward said. 

“Our priority is to support  people who are surviving domestic abuse including by supporting one of the most fundamental rights a person has, to have a home that is free from violence.”

The support include: 

  • A rental subsidy of up to 36 months in the private market for people escaping domestic and family violence and other support services to build independence. 
  • Assistance to help people set up a tenancy through Rentstart Bond Loan and Rent Advance

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said this is an important service for those escaping domestic and family violence.

“It provides victim-survivors with a pathway to housing assistance in the private rental market that is trauma informed and easy to navigate,” Ms Tuckerman said.

Member for Wollondilly Nathanial Smith said specialist homelessness service providers are often the first on the ground to work with people experiencing domestic violence.

“This service will make a difference to the lives of people escaping family and domestic violence as they re-establish themselves in a new home,” Mr Smith said.

Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves said it is critical that people escaping domestic and family violence have a safe and secure home to go to.

“This is why the NSW Government is extending its private rental subsidy to victim-survivors,” Mr Sidgreaves said.

Supporting clients to access the private rental market is a key element of the NSW Government’s Future Directions for Social Housing.

Download media release: Extended Rent Support Helps People Escaping Domestic Violence Find a Secure Home (PDF , 358.1 KB)

Last updated:

13 Apr 2023