The initiative will see dedicated emergency housing space set aside for use by family violence perpetrators when they're required to stay away from their home and have nowhere else to go. Photo / File.

Emergency housing to be provided for family violence offenders

Author: Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2016, 2:53pm

UPDATED 5.34PM Emergency housing is to be provided to those responsible for family violence, with the aim of keeping them away from their victims.

The Government has announced today it will put $500,000 into the initiative over the next two years.

LISTEN ABOVE: Justice Minister Amy Adams speaks with Larry Williams about the initiative

The scheme will see emergency housing provided in Christchurch and Waikato as a part of a new integrated response trial.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley said the aim is to give accommodation options to offenders who have nowhere to go when Court orders bar them from the family home.

"But where does he go? So he ends up sleeping in cars, people's couches, and can often get angrier and come back and commit more violence in the household."

Minister of Justice, Amy Adams, said the scheme is vital in helping end a vicious cycle.

"Without that, what we're seeing is offenders can leave the house, not have anywhere to go, sort of bounce around from friends' places, sort of create more tension, and the situation escalates."

If the program is successful, it could be turned into a nationwide initiative.

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