Homeless women 'raped, abused' in return for shelter
Homeless women are being raped and abused by men in return for a safe shelter, it has been claimed.
Women feel obliged to provide sexual favours to men who offer them accommodation because they have nowhere else to go, according to the Salvation Army.
While some have even told of being raped and abused by men in return for a roof over their head.
Brendan Nottle, of the Salvation Army, said: "Some women feel obligated to provide sex if they are seeking accommodation. It has become almost a given that they will offer that up to get somewhere to stay."
Mr Nottle has called for more safe and secure accommodation to protect vulnerable women on the streets.
"If there were more safe and secure accommodation for women, they wouldn't need to resort to these sorts of things," he told the Guardian Australia.
One 17-year-old woman, who was forced to leave home, aged 15, because of her mother's abusive partner, told the newspaper she had endured three abusive relationships, including alleged instances of rape, and is now pregnant.
She claimed she was raped by a man who offered her shelter, but said she had no alternative.
"It was better than sleeping on the streets," she said.
She said she later found shelter in a shared house with a former partner but claimed the housemates demanded that she have sex with several of them.
She also alleged they assaulted her and filmed the incident.
The Victorian Government said it will consider funding a new program to tackle the issue and attempt to change men's attitudes towards homeless women.
In Victoria, more than 22,000 people are homeless, according to latest statistics from Homelessness Australia.
Morning news break – January 27
