Biyani House opened as a women’s shelter in 2022 to help meet the needs of women escaping domestic and family violence in the Canterbury-Bankstown area – a region of Sydney with one of the highest rates of domestic violence calls to police. It opened as the first specialised women and children shelter in the area, and recently expanded its accommodation offering and its capacity to meet their growing needs.
Biyani House was created when community organisations partnered to provide holistic case management services – from safety planning and financial counselling to housing assistance and medical care. Over the past three years, they've provided nearly 8,000 "safe bed nights".
The new accommodation consists of one-bedroom units with timber finishes, warm colours and modern amenities.
Debjani Sarkar, chair of the Biyani House Board, says the well-designed space “provides dignity to women and children so they can start rebuilding their lives" and access wraparound support services.
The community support for Biyani House is an important part of their story.
Revesby Workers Club's capital works team helped establish the shelter. The Revesby Worker’s Garden Club and the East Hills Men's Shed maintain the property, and the Revesby Community Op Shop provides cash donations and vouchers so women can purchase essentials when setting up their homes.
"The whole community has got behind Biyani House," says Kylie Wilkinson MP, NSW member for East Hills. "It brings the community together to show these women and families that there is a place for help, that the community is behind them."
Always looking forward, Biyani House plans to expand services to include wellbeing and specialist services for children, helping even more families find safety and look to the future with confidence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or distress, please call 1800 RESPECT, or Lifeline: 13 11 14.
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