Homeless women and children offered car park to sleep in through NSW pilot program

Women and children in New South Wales are being offered a car park to sleep in overnight as part of a pilot program aimed at keeping those experiencing homelessness and domestic violence safe.

But Nova, the housing assistance service for women and children fleeing domestic violence, has been referring people to the pilot, which began in April and will run until June.

“We are heartened by the enthusiastic response from our community, both locally and nationally, to share support options for women needing a space to sleep,” the spokesperson said.

The Homelessness NSW chief executive, Dom Rowe, said the lack of safe and affordable housing was “forcing vulnerable women to make impossible choices”.

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“Of course, I recognise how these efforts to make women and children safe are direct responses to the ongoing housing crisis, but it’s not acceptable that this is what we have come to.