MIDLAND’S Indigo Junction’s latest figures reveal a rising demand for family and domestic violence services, highlighting the effects of mounting cost-of-living pressures on service providers.

In response to questions from Echo News about the number of families accessing Indigo Junction’s services, the provider said across the board 3090 individuals were supported – a 35 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

Although a higher number of people were able to receive support in the past year, the team at Indigo Junction said the rising cost-of-living was one of the most pressing challenges alongside the lack of long-term housing options for people moving on from crisis accommodations.

During the past year, 44 per cent of clients Indigo Junction supported were safely rehoused or moved into long-term accommodation such as private rentals, community housing or transitional housing.

The remaining 56 per cent are either still engaged in support services, in temporary accommodation or in less stable housing situations.

Indigo Junction shared the story of their client Steph, whose name and identifying details were changed to protect confidentiality, in response to requests from Echo News to provide insight into the reality of crisis service work.

“After escaping a violent relationship, Steph found herself homeless and living in overcrowded, unsafe accommodation with her four children,” Indigo Junction said.

“With few affordable rental options available for a family of their size, and housing opportunities severely limited, Steph reached out to Indigo Junction for help.

“The family’s immediate need for safe accommodation (was prioritised) and ensuring Steph and her children could stay together was key to preventing further trauma and maintaining their internal support system.

“The family was first placed in Indigo Junction’s Koolkuna family and domestic violence refuge, providing them with the safety and stability they needed.

“Soon after, a transitional housing opportunity became available, offering a more stable base as they began the next stage of their journey.

“While in transitional housing, Steph and her children continued to receive wraparound emotional and practical support from Indigo Junction’s case workers and advocates.

“Steph was also linked to services that helped her work towards long-term housing, financial independence and healing from trauma.

Indigo Junction reopened its Koolkuna Women’s Refuge on July 2 after months of refurbishment.

The refurbishment was supported by more than half a million dollars of funding from the Department of Housing and Works’ community housing grant program and a $357,570 Lotterywest grant.

As reported in Breakfast blitz calls on community generosity (Echo News, August 1) community support service provider Uniting WA said families were a growing cohort accessing support services.

Indigo Junction said the data highlighted a persistently high and growing level of unmet need for crisis accommodation.

“In 2023-24, 751 individuals were turned away due to a lack of available beds,” they said.

“This figure surged to 1237 in 2024-25, reflecting a sharp rise in families seeking safety from family and domestic violence.

“This trend shows that demand continues to far exceed capacity, with hundreds of women and children being turned away or wait-listed due to insufficient refuge spaces and limited housing exit pathways.

“Similarly, across all Indigo Junction services, we have seen that unmet demand has increased by more than 60 per cent in just two years, with 9615 people turned away or unaccommodated in 2024-25, including those who are escaping family and domestic violence.”

New Midland youth accommodation (Echo News, May 2) reported Indigo Junction has contracted McCorkell Constructions to build 20 dwellings for youth accommodation in Midland.

The youth accommodation project is expected to reach completion at the end of 2026.