Sarah Farnsworth reported this story on Friday, May 29, 2015 12:20:00

KIM LANDERS: The fear of having nowhere to go is often a reason women don't leave violent relationships.



Now Victoria's royal commission into family violence is being asked to consider the other side - what happens when it's the men who end up homeless and police can't track them down.



The Council to Homeless Persons says men-only shelters are already stretched to capacity and a lack of affordable housing is placing women in danger.



Sarah Farnsworth reports.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: Kate has been living in fear from her ex-partner. They separated three years ago.



She didn't want to use her real name or meet face to face as she's worried he will somehow track her down.



KATE: He would do everything from punching and relentless punching, he's tried to run me over, I've had a double barrelled shot gun at my head.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: Kate did escape the violence by getting the police involved and her attacker was ordered out of their home.



Court orders were put in place to try and protect her but he didn't let up.



KATE: I would be out and he would, no matter where I went, he would harass the people, like just knock on the windows and doors and yell and ring to be let in the house, or he would just send me text messages on my phone.



If I was just at a random shop he would say, I can see you.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: Then when he became homeless police couldn't find him.



KATE: He didn't have a fixed address, he was couch surfing and sleeping in his car, but he was also changing cars so he couldn't be found.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: And during that time was he still pursuing you and trying to get in contact with you?



KATE: Yep, yeah.



I had to leave my home. I didn't even tell anyone.



It was supposed to be for three days, they were hoping to get him in three days.



It took a few months so during that process I lost my house. I couldn't just, you know, I wasn't working, I wasn't getting an income, I wasn't paying any bills because I was put in hiding.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: Janine Mahoney is from the family violence support organisation, Safe Futures.



JANINE MAHONEY: Often when men are asked to leave their home, usually by the police, they're then expected to source accommodation for themselves.



Many men don't have somewhere to go and I think that, that in fact can often compound the problem and compound the anger that they're feeling at that time.



I think what we need to do is look to ensure that we mitigate triggers for anger and for violence and therefore we need to look to how do we make sure that men are provided with appropriate accommodation.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: The risks posed by violent men when they end up homeless has been highlighted in a submission to Victorian royal commission into family violence.



The Council for Homeless Persons says it's known if the man has somewhere to go, it not only allows women and children to remain at home, it enables police to enforce court orders.



Yet the council's Jenny Smith says that's a problem when it comes to the current housing market.



JENNY SMITH: Single men on low incomes are going to get out there in the private rental market and find that one in 200 properties is affordable to them.



These men often then disappear into rooming houses or other forms of temporary accommodation.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: This can't just be a Victorian issue.



JENNY SMITH: No, this is a nationwide issue.



I mean we're focussing on it in Victoria in particular at the moment in the context of the royal commission, which is an opportunity I think for us to put a lens on the side of the problem that is very difficult for us to think about.



It's quite a prickly issue but this is not about rewarding abusive men, it's about ensuring that police can keep perpetrators in sight.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: In Victoria, there are two men-only crisis accommodation centres but they're already stretched to capacity.



Janine Mahoney from Safe Futures says what's needed are behavioural programs for men that provide accommodation, along with case managers, and for the courts to order men to attend.



JANINE MAHONEY: I think that is the key to family violence responses across the board is to have consistent responses.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: As for Kate, she now lives in a home that is fitted with CCTV cameras.



KATE: But then in the back of my mind I always think there is always a chance that he can find where I am.



SARAH FARNSWORTH: So at all times she wears a personal alarm that will alert police she's in danger.



KIM LANDERS: Sarah Farnsworth reporting.