JANA is the first to admit that she’d be homeless without Launch Housing’s rapid rehousing program.

The 26-year-old single mum and family violence survivor came to Melbourne from Western Australia for a new start and a painting apprenticeship.

When she arrived the job and promise of housing fell through, leaving her and her six-year-old daughter living night-to-night in hotel rooms.

“I’d spend all my money on hotel rooms, waiting until late to try and get the best deals,” Jana told Leader.

“I kept applying for rental properties but having a single income I kept being knocked back.

“After a while you just feel like you shouldn’t apply anymore. You just fall in to a hole and you feel like there is no way out.”

A referral to social agency Launch Housing changed the struggling young mum’s life, getting her into stable accommodation, assisting her with furniture, a fridge, and even the bond and four weeks of rent.

“When I walked in for the first time the cupboards had been filled with food.” Jana said.

“You can’t imagine the difference this stability makes — my daughter can finally make friends at school. She’s already gone to six different schools and she’s only in year 1.”

Jana is one of more than 560 people helped by a national rapid rehousing partnership, for women and children fleeing family violence, which started in March last year.

Launch Housing deputy chief executive officer Heather Holst said their partnership with REA Group for the program was a great example of how the not-for-profit and corporate sectors could work together to tackle homelessness.

“Women and children trying to escape a violent home are over represented in the homelessness sector generally,” Dr Holst said.

“More than 30 per cent of the people we assist every year at our frontline services are women and children who are unable to remain in the family home because of abuse and violence.”

“When REA Group approached us we knew that this kind of partnership could be a game changer.

“In just 12 months we have worked with partner agencies nationally to help hundreds of women and children who might otherwise have slept in cars or in overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation.

“Even worse they might have continued to endure damaging and in some cases life threatening abuse and violence at home.”

REA Group chief executive officer Tracey Fellows said she was humbled by the number of women and children the partnership has been able to assist.