Raised in a violent home, Leah thought she’d escaped when she moved in with her boyfriend as a teenager. Sadly, Leah found herself pregnant and her partner turned violent.
When her little girl, Charlotte, was born, Leah knew her baby needed a home, food, and nappies. She didn’t know how she could possibly support Charlotte on her own. But, when her partner started to become aggressive with their baby, Leah knew she had to leave, and she did.
Eventually, Leah met someone new, but he too took advantage of her vulnerability. This brave young woman somehow gathered the courage to leave.
For the next two years, Leah and her baby girl lived in their car.
In time, Leah was connected to two Vinnies volunteers, Frank and Narelle, who were able to secure her and Charotte a place at a crisis centre. They helped Leah find permanent housing and set up her new home with whitegoods and furniture. They also gave her food hampers and vouchers to help out while she was looking for a job.
Your gift this Winter can provide the emergency accommodation, financial support and material assistance needed for women and children, like Leah and Charlotte, to be able to escape the danger in their homes, so the violence can stop.
The Problem
Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children.
Tragically, the number of women experiencing domestic violence has increased significantly in the past two years, leaving many emergency shelters unable to cope.
On average, women return to their abusive partners between 8 and 11 times, before they leave for good, or sadly, their life is taken from them. This cycle is often caused by a lack of financial means and safe accommodation to escape to.
Stopping domestic violence starts with a safe place to sleep.
With your support, we can ensure women and children, like Leah and Charlotte, always have somewhere to go.
How you can help
When a woman and her children are connected with Vinnies and given a safe place to sleep, they are also connected to a range of support services – both practical and emotional – needed to break the cycle.
That one night means they are no longer alone. They are seen, heard, given a voice and have trusted people to help them through the crisis and into recovery. With support for essentials like food, clothing, furniture, rent, the financial pressure eases, making a new future possible.
Your gift won’t just give a family, like Leah and Charlotte, a safe place to sleep – it will help them find the support they need to start a better life.
Food for women and children
Your donation can provide basics like food and toiletries for a woman and her child after they have fled from an abusive situation, so they can survive the first few days.
Help with the essentials
Your donation can help cover essentials like bills, or larger expenses, such as whitegoods and furniture, so mothers like Leah can provide a safe home for their children.
Support to keep safe
Your donation can help with rental bonds or payments so that women and children like Leah and Charlotte can have a place of their own to start again.
All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Donate Now
Your Impact
With an increasing number of women and children experiencing violence at home, we urgently need your support.
You have the power to give more women and children like Leah and Charlotte a safe and supportive place to escape the violence in their homes.
“Thanks to the help I got, I’m now getting to be the mum I always wanted to be. I’m giving my little girl the chance to have a normal childhood and every possibility in life. Vinnies saved my life.” - Leah
Your gift this Winter can provide the emergency accommodation, care and support needed for women and children, like Leah and Charlotte, to be able to leave the danger in their homes, so the violence can stop.
A big thank you to our Supporters
The real heroes who are kindly helping us achieve our goal
Anthony Simmons
$150
Caroline Kettle
$169
Ai-lin Ccrisford
$2
Ramona Datu
$1
Lachlan Dale
$2
Anonymous
$5
Anonymous
$5
Anne Burrow
$1
Devangi Thakkar
$8
Devangi Thakkar
$5
